A Saanich man placed himself between his dog and what he says was a charging pit bull that left his pet with serious injuries.

The incident happened at around 6:15 p.m. Saturday near Colquitz middle school, when the man, who did not want to give his name, and his wife were walking with Coco, described as B次元官网网址渁 geriatric, spayed female dog more than 15 years old.B次元官网网址�

As they were walking on the Colquitz River Trail between Interurban Road and Dumeresq Street, the man and his wife noticed two men standing with their dogs.

One of the men was holding a large pit bull that was B次元官网网址渉eavily muscled and weighed about 130 pounds.B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淰ery quickly, the pit bull dog noticed my dog and began straining hard at its harness in an attempt to approach me and my dog,B次元官网网址� the man said.

B次元官网网址淭he pit bull managed to pull free from its owner and charged at us. I was holding my dog on a short leash, and standing between the approaching pit bull and my dog in order to afford some protection to my dog.B次元官网网址�

The attacking dog went around the legs of CocoB次元官网网址檚 owner and B次元官网网址渃lampedB次元官网网址� its huge jaw around the shoulder and neck of Coco. Her owner soon found himself on the ground between the dogs, trying to separate them.

B次元官网网址淒uring the few seconds that passed from the time the pit bull started to charge us until this point, the dogB次元官网网址檚 owner had approached the scene and managed to restrain his dog, but not until after his pit bull dog had caused a major and serious injury to Coco,B次元官网网址� he said.

The man said the extent of the injury was not clear at the time. There was only a small amount of blood and emotions were running high, and there was B次元官网网址渘o time to have a closer look at the injuries caused,B次元官网网址� he said.

He said the dogB次元官网网址檚 owner said, B次元官网网址淥h, itB次元官网网址檚 just a puppy. ItB次元官网网址檚 just got high spirits. Is your day OK?B次元官网网址�

It was only later that CocoB次元官网网址檚 owner realized the danger he had been in, B次元官网网址済iven the speed and viciousness with which this dog had managed to attack my poor old dog. It couldB次元官网网址檝e have attacked me.B次元官网网址�

Coco underwent surgery at Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital for wounds stretching some 12 inches in length from the top of her head to beneath her left shoulder. The other dogB次元官网网址檚 owner paid the $1,300 bill for the surgery.

Sgt. Jereme Leslie of the Saanich Police said Animal Control Services have launched an investigation into the incident.

B次元官网网址淭he type of dog still needs to be verified and itB次元官网网址檚 not known if the dog has a history,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he owners of both dogs are fully co-operating with the Saanich Pound. ItB次元官网网址檚 still very early in the investigation and the pound will investigate if there has been any breach of the Saanich bylaws and take appropriate action.B次元官网网址�

One looming question concerns the fate of the attacking dog and its would-be status under SaanichB次元官网网址檚 animal control bylaw, which distinguishes between B次元官网网址渁ggressiveB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渄angerous,B次元官网网址� the more serious of the two categories.

For CocoB次元官网网址檚 owner, the experience demands action.

B次元官网网址淚t is my opinion that the action needs to be taken to protect public safety from this animal, especially given that [its] home is virtually right across the street from a school,B次元官网网址� he said.

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wolfgang.depner@saanichnews.com