A dog which left a Colwood woman with a broken nose, concussion and her own pet pooch injured, has been classed as B次元官网网址榥ot dangerousB次元官网网址� by a Capital Region District (CRD) investigation.
The news has come as a surprise for Cindy Andrew, who has asked the City of Colwood to review its own Animal Control Bylaw and assist her with an appeal to the CRD.
She feels the definition of a 'dangerous dog', as described in B.C.'s Community Charter, does not take into account the 'intent' of the animal, only the physical effects of the attack, which she says poses a risk to public safety.
Describing the unprovoked B次元官网网址渧icious attackB次元官网网址�, which took place on Owens Road on Dec. 28, 2024, Andrew says a large dog, roughly 70 to 80 pounds, bolted from a house in pursuit of her pet Farley, a 50-pound duck-tolling retriever.
With her dog under attack, Andrew jumped in to defend him.
B次元官网网址淚n the melee that ensued for several minutes, I was knocked down and broke my nose,B次元官网网址� said Andrew, speaking at a City of Colwood meeting Monday (Jan. 16). B次元官网网址淚 have many cuts and bruises and a bite on my knee and Farley had a bite wound on his armpit and bruising in his abdomen.B次元官网网址�
With the help of two passersby, the attacking dog was eventually restrained, and first responders, police, ambulance and the CRD were soon on the scene.
Andrew gave a statement to the CRD, expecting B次元官网网址渟erious repercussionsB次元官网网址� for the offending dog and its owner, but was left disappointed when the CRD said the animal did not meet the B次元官网网址榙angerous dogB次元官网网址� criteria.
According to the Community Charter, a B次元官网网址榙angerous dogB次元官网网址� is a canine that has killed or seriously injured a person; or has killed or seriously injured a domestic animal, while in a public place or on private property.
A dog can also be defined as dangerous if an animal control officer has B次元官网网址渞easonable grounds to believe it is likely to kill or seriously injure a person.B次元官网网址�
ColwoodB次元官网网址檚 Animal Control Bylaw uses the Community CharterB次元官网网址檚 definition for a B次元官网网址榙angerous dogB次元官网网址�, setting out rules for ownership, including the use of a muzzle and leash when the animal is in a public place.
The City of Colwood contracts CRD Animal Services to enforce its Animal Control Bylaw.
B次元官网网址淚n this case, we believe the dog in question poses a significant threat to humans and other animals and should be considered dangerous,B次元官网网址� said Andrew.
B次元官网网址淲hile the level of injury may not meet the B次元官网网址榮erious injury or deathB次元官网网址� criteria, is it intent we should consider or simply the physical outcome?B次元官网网址�
Sympathetic to her experience, Mayor Doug Kobayashi told Andrew the city would review its bylaw B次元官网网址� a motion unanimously approved by councillors.
"I do take this exceptionally seriously right now," said Kobayashi. "I wanted the process to work, and I think the process has failed us."
The mayor also said he would personally contact the CRD to ask for Andrew's case to be reviewed.
"This incident has prompted a review of the city bylaw in collaboration with CRD Animal Services to determine whether there are provisions required beyond what the Community Charter outlines," confirmed a city spokesperson in an emailed statement.
The CRD was approached for comment.
