An investigation is still underway after three pit bulls allegedly fatally attacked a 12-year-old collie in a fenced yard in North Kamloops.
Police said they were called to Richmond Avenue Sunday morning after receiving a report of a dog being killed by three other dogs.
Mounties said three dogs, believed to be pit bulls, appeared to have jumped the fence of a residence and attacked a collie in a back yard on Richmond Avenue. The owner came outside to find her dog fatally injured and the three dogs are alleged to have fled by jumping the fence again.
Will Beatty, the city's community services manager, said the three dogs, that appear to be pit bulls, were surrendered by their owner at an address close to the incident several hours later.
“We're working through, trying to compile evidence in the case to get the best picture of what occurred. The dogs have attended a vet and are now back in our possession,” he said.
“We don't feel that there’s a threat to public safety with them in our care and control.”
While the investigation is still ongoing, Beatty noted the community services department has the option to euthanize an aggressive dog. He said they would first try to rehabilitate the animal by working with a veterinary behaviour specialist.
“Euthanization is a piece that we can consider, but it isn't the first thing we go to," Beatty said. "We try and rehabilitate first and then if we have to take that next step, then that's what we would have to do."
He said determining the dog’s behaviour is a key piece to the investigation, as well as making sure the owner is in compliance with the city's Dog Responsibility Bylaw and making sure all licensing information is up to date.
“I haven't seen these dogs cross my desk when it comes to classification of them being aggressive or dangerous,” Beatty said.
“I haven't seen any reports of the need for a classification of these dogs before, although there's Facebook posts to suggest there's vet bills and a bunch of different incidents of this that I'm not aware of.”
Beatty said a bylaw restriction in the city that limits the number of dogs to two per property, although he said residents can apply for a variance for a third, then can stand before city council for four or more. Asked if the owner of the three dogs has applied for a variance, he said those circumstances are part of the investigation.
The city's Dog Responsibility Bylaw outlaws dangerous dogs. A dog that has killed or seriously injured a person or a domestic animal meets the definition under the bylaw.
Beatty asked that anyone with evidence or footage of prior incidents with the same dogs contact the City of Kamloops’ community services department.
