Animal Services closer to finding owner in Matthew Brigmantas dog attack

CANADA -- Hamilton Animal Services are still taking leads from the public, but the city service believes they have found the potential owner of the dog involved in an attack that happened in association with the death of Hamilton man Matthew Brigmantas last week.

Matthew Brigmantas

Brigmantas died shortly after the attack Wednesday night in central Hamilton. Two men were walking the dog, and the dog began to attack one of the men. The other man used a baseball bat to fend off the dog. Brigmantas would later be declared dead at the scene.

   

 

Since the attack, the dog has remained in quarantine. The Shar Pei Fila Brasileiro mix with an apricot brindle coat remains in confinement for 10 days after a bite, part of ministry guidelines, said city spokesperson Ann Lamanes.

She cautioned that the city is "carefully approaching" the euthanasia question, and that it is waiting on key pieces of information, including the owner history, and the details and severity of the bite or bites, photos of which are currently in possession of the coroners' office.

Without the photos or remarks from the coroner, Lamanes said they are unable to grade the dog on a five-point scale used to determine if an animal should be euthanized.

"We have no immediate plans to euthanize this dog. We are being very sensitive in this matter," Lamanes said.

She added that the mandate of Hamilton Animal Services differs fundamentally from organizations like the local Society for the Prevention of Curlety to Animals (SPCA).

"Hamilton Animal Services' primary mandate is protection of the public against wildlife, including domestic animals (key distinction from SPCA, which is reverse). That said, our handling of all animals in our care is humane and we make every effort to avoid euthanization," Lamanes said.

The dog is a Shar Pei mixed with Fila Brasileiro, a Brazilian Mastiff known to be bred for aggression.

It is one of four dogs banned in the United Kingdom. Lamanes said the breed is not banned in Hamilton, and that the city does not believe the dog is licensed.

(CBC.ca - July 13, 2015)

Earlier:

• Coroner says man not killed by dog; neighbors who beat dog off with baseball disagree