So a
grade 4 girl was mauled by a dog in Calgary last month.
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Before she knew it, she saw an American Staffordshire terrier mix lunging at her from a few metres away, even though it was attached to a "stretch leash" and accompanied by its owner.
Bonita said the dog gnawed on her limb like it was some kind of chew toy or doggy treat, refusing to let go even as she kicked the animal in the face. Eventually, the owner pinned the dog and freed Bonita's leg.
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The individual faces charges over a serious dog bite, which comes with a $750 to $1,500 fine, and not having sufficient control of a dog, a $100 penalty.
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On the heals of this attack, Bill Bruce, Director of Animal and Bylaw Services, is asking Calgarians
for feedback on increasing the fine for an animal attack from the current maximum of $1,500 to a new maximum of $10,000.
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In two years the number of dog bites in Calgary has increased from 58 bites to 127 in 2011.
“One of the shocking trends to us is out of the 127 bites, (for) 75 the owner was there,” Bruce said. “We’re saying, there is no way your dog should be biting someone if you’re there. You should have control. That’s what begs the question, Are the consequences dire enough?"
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Personally, I think increasing the fine is a step in the right direction. I assume owners of dogs that attack may also be on the hook for restitution if sued, but I'd like some sort of mandatory restitution to be a component of the fine. Maybe keep the $1,500 fine to the city as is and $8,500 goes to the injured. I'm sure there are legal realities that preclude an arrangement like this, but it would be nice.
With 127
reported dog attacks in the city in 2011, maybe we need to start looking at dogs as dangerous weapons and treat their owners in the same way we treat people who wield knives or brandish guns.
