A new animal control bylaw could offer more clarity about the definition of "dangerous" for future B次元官网网址渄og biteB次元官网网址� investigations carried out by the Capital Regional District (CRD).

But a Colwood dog attack victim says the proposed new 'Animal Responsibility BylawB次元官网网址� is not enough to ensure public safety.

Cindy Andrew says she had to B次元官网网址減ursueB次元官网网址� the CRD "three times" to thoroughly investigate a dog attack involving her and her dog Farley in December, which ultimately found the attacking animal did not meet the B次元官网网址榙angerous dogB次元官网网址� criteria, as defined by the Community Charter.

While the CRD has drafted the new bylaw, which offers a new B次元官网网址渕iddle groundB次元官网网址� designation of B次元官网网址渁ggressive,B次元官网网址� Andrew says the investigation process is also in need of urgent review, not just the bylaw.

B次元官网网址淢y experience has really shone a light on this B次元官网网址� I think there's work to be done,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭his is about public safety B次元官网网址� when incidents occur, are the appropriate laws and processes in place to ensure public safety of pets and people?B次元官网网址�

When her duck-tolling retriever was attacked by a larger dog, Andrew was left with a broken nose and concussion following the melee that ensued for several minutes. Both Andrew and dog Farley were also bitten by the attacking canine, she says.

When she was told the attacking animal did not meet the B次元官网网址榙angerous dogB次元官网网址� criteria, Andrew appealed the decision with the City of Colwood, who contract CRD Animal Services to enforce its Animal Control Bylaw.

A review quickly followed, which found that the cityB次元官网网址檚 bylaw model and B次元官网网址渟ubjective metricB次元官网网址� for determining whether a dog is dangerous have B次元官网网址渢oo high a threshold.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭hrough our investigation, we have realized that our current Animal Control Bylaw does not contain sufficient tools that we (or our contracted agency) need to assess and classify these situations,B次元官网网址� said ColwoodB次元官网网址檚 bylaw manager Byron Grant in an email shared with Goldstream Gazette.

According to the CRD's draft bylaw B次元官网网址� which has come about because of AndrewB次元官网网址檚 experience and B次元官网网址渟everalB次元官网网址� other incidents B次元官网网址� an unprovoked dog causing B次元官网网址渘on-serious or minor injuryB次元官网网址� to a person or another domestic animal, would be classed as B次元官网网址渁ggressive.B次元官网网址�

Currently, the Community Charter defines a 'dangerous dog' as one that has killed or seriously injured a person or domestic animal or can be defined so if an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe it is likely to kill or seriously injure a person.

Grant said in an email that an "aggressive" designation would have B次元官网网址渓ikely satisfied all stakeholders in Andrew's case."

But Andrew feels adding an B次元官网网址渁ggressiveB次元官网网址� category will only serve to B次元官网网址渕uddy the watersB次元官网网址� of future investigations.

"How is adding another category going to help?" she said. "How about you just do a good job working with the categories we have right now. Because B次元官网网址� how much do we distinguish between aggressive dogs and dangerous dogs? I couldnB次元官网网址檛." 

In areas where the CRD is contracted to enforce animal control bylawsB次元官网网址攊ncluding Langford, Sooke, View Royal, Saanich, North Saanich, Central Saanich, Sidney, Metchosin, and HighlandsB次元官网网址攖he municipality would need to agree to adopt the B次元官网网址楢nimal Responsibility BylawB次元官网网址�.

Something Colwood is keen to expedite, says Sandra Russell, communications manager, who notes the new bylaw could create B次元官网网址渃onsistency and clarityB次元官网网址� for municipalities in the CRD.

B次元官网网址淚 expect this collaboration will result in us adopting what is recommended since our team is collaborating closely on these changes,B次元官网网址� she said.

While Andrew is appreciative of ColwoodB次元官网网址檚 quick response to her complaint, she feels the CRD could do more.

B次元官网网址淐olwood heard me,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淭hey're acting on it, theyB次元官网网址檙e working for change. CRD, it's your turn.B次元官网网址�

The CRD said they cannot comment on Andrew's case as they "believe she has launched [a] more formal complaint," something Andrew says she has not done.