Call for ban on aggressive dogs in RDNO dog parks

The Regional District of North Okanagan will consider a request to ban aggressive dogs from RDNO dog parks.

The request for a bylaw change was made by dog owner Donia Strand whose Labrador Barney was attacked by a German Shepherd at Marshall Field dog park in May which caused serious injuries.

A petition by Strand on change.org has generated over 400 supporters as of 12 p.m. Oct. 30.

In a letter to the board of directors, Strand said her dog was leashed and walking by the dog near the exitentrance to the park when the attack happened “with no interaction and no warning.”

“The German Shepherd dog (GSD) named Jet (found to be unlicensed) lunged and bit through his chin and muzzle so Barney could not open his mouth fully and it wouldn’t let go. The owner punched his dog in the head about 10 times and the attack lasted many minutes, with the GSD shaking his head back and forth, trying to tear Barney’s throat out. Barney was screaming. When the GSD finally let go, as I was getting Barney away, the owner had the dog down on the ground in a wrestling scissor lock and it was still trying to get to Barney,” wrote Strand.

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Strand added when questioned about the attack by Vernon K-9 Dog Control, the owner of the German Sheperd said that “it is her word against mine, and there were no witnesses.”

“K-9 Dog Control noted that there were at least 10 witnesses, according to the two that they spoke with that recounted the same sequence of events that I did. Barney had serious wounds from a Level 4 bite (Ian Dunbar’s bite assessment that runs from Level 1-6, with the highest level resulting in death) which denotes that the biter has no bite inhibition, a poor prognosis as they will resort to this bite level when highly aroused or scared and a high probability of biting at this level again.”

Strand said her dog has required surgery for the initial bite wounds and then an additional painful surgery in June as the vet said a cut or abrasion from the attack went deep under the skin and left pockets of infection.

“This bite could have killed a child, a small dog or my lab if the GSD had managed to hit his jugular or tear his throat. Aggressive dogs don’t belong in RDNO dog parks as a matter of public safety and safety for our good canine citizens,” concluded Strand.

Strand is asking the board to consider a change to the dog control bylaw to ban aggressive dogs.

“Bylaw No. 2466 does not have a provision to ban aggressive dogs from dog parks (many other cities and regional districts do; they are called a “no go” order). Bylaw No. 2466 does define an aggressive dog and states that all aggressive dogs, when not on the property of the owner, be muzzled and leashed. However, muzzles come off very easily and some are flimsy – not enough of a deterrent to stop an attack.”

The regional district said the board received the petition and is currently reviewing its dog control bylaw and this topic will be addressed through that process.