Dog bite leaves woman disappointed in RCMP, SPCA

Niomi Hammett
Alberni Valley Times

June 14, 2005

After suffering a rather serious dog bite, Annette Hamel has said she is disappointed with the way the SPCA and RCMP have handled her case.

"Beware of dogs, they are more protected than human beings," she said.

The ordeal began on May 25 when Hamel was at a friend's house helping him in the garden. They were in the front yard while the next door neighbour and her dog, a German shepherd, were in their backyard.

"So as soon as she arrived in the front part, I was just walking out of the back yard of my friend and we were together, the dog came straight at me, behind me and bit me in the right buttock," Hamel said. "I just screamed 'ouch, he bit me', she said 'no, it's impossible, my dog is really good'."

Hamel then proceeded back into her friend's house where she disinfected the wound with hydrogen peroxide and decided to go home.

"I was really shaky because it burned like fire," she said.

Shortly after, Hamel went to the hospital to have the wound looked at.

"The doctor said 'this is one bite too many, you have to report this to the police'," she said. "He said if that had been a child, the child would have died because it's a big bite."

Not wanting to create conflict between her friend and his neighbor, Hamel said she didn't report anything to the police, but rethought the idea later.

"There's two many children playing in the street right in front of that yard and what if the dog, one day, is enraged because he's always fenced in, in the back yard and when he gets out, he gets his frustration on someone, maybe a poor child will get it and die," she said.

On May 27, the local resident said she called the local RCMP and explained the situation to an officer who said he would call back within half an hour.

When two hours passed, Hamel called again and was referred to another officer who asked her to re-explain the situation again.

"Since nothing was happening, I called about five times to see how my file was being processed, and I could never get to talk to the officer in charge of me."

On June 1, Hamel decided to call the SPCA herself.

She said they asked her for a written statement and told her that if they went out to see both the dog and owner that there would be a charge. Days passed without hearing anything from the SPCA or RCMP, Hamel said. She added that the owner of the dog didn't inquire as to how she was doing after the incident occurred or in the days following that.

"They're responsible, I hold them responsible for what happened, because I wasn't in their yard, that dog crossed their yard to come in the neighbour's yard," she said. "I never provoked that dog."

Hamel was informed on June 6 that the RCMP had visited the owner, and that the owner had agreed to take control of the dog.

"Everyone has a different definition of control," Hamel said.

Hamel's next course of action was to call city bylaw enforcement officer Jack Payne.

"I thought Jack Payne was really on the ball and really speedy to take action," she said.

Within half an hour of calling Payne, Hamel said the SPCA called to inform her that they were working on the file.

While the case is still being processed, Hamel said the whole experience has left a bad taste in her mouth.

"I was very disappointed with the SPCA and with the police officer, I felt that nothing was being done," Hamel said. "I felt that the police and the SPCA couldn't care less what went on, it took way too long."

SPCA employee Liz Towell said that the organization did everything they could as was required.

"When somebody gives a report of a dog bite, we don't go to the house to look at the dog. We have presented the file to our city solicitor, that means we've taken her statement and we write up a cover letter saying that we want charges of keeping a vicious dog laid," she explained.

SPCA manager Irene Towell was not available to give comment at press time.

"It's in our lawyer's hands, and they are, right now, going through with pressing charges."

In the meantime, Hamel said she remains frustrated with the length of time and effort it took to get something done about the situation.

"If a dog at my place would have bitten someone, my dad would have gotten rid of the dog right away," she said.