Dangerous dogs to be put down in North Van District and in Vancouver

Animal Advocates Watchdog

WESTCOAST NEWS
Judge orders killer Rottweiler destroyed
Risk too great dog will kill again after it nearly ripped head off chihuahua, judge rules

Kim Bolan
Vancouver Sun

Thursday, November 10, 2005

VANCOUVER - A B.C. Provincial Court judge has ordered a 34-kilogram Rottweiler named Carma destroyed, despite the pleas of its owner, because three months ago the dog almost ripped the head off a 2.7-kg chihuahua named Teeny.

Judge Thomas Gove sided with the City of Vancouver in a ruling released Wednesday, saying the chance is too great that Carma may be a serial killer.

"The risk that Carma will kill again is too high to make a conditional order. I order that the City of Vancouver have Carma destroyed, in a humane manner, by a veterinarian," Gove said.

Carma's owner, Rose Dubois, had moved from Hope to Vancouver with her large dog just before the Aug. 3 attack.

Teeny's owner, Natalie Jacques and her 18-year-old cousin, were strolling down Commercial Drive with the dog between them, on their way to buy Teeny a treat. Carma was being cared for by her owner's friend as Dubois was out of town on a family emergency. The Rottweiler was sitting in the passenger seat of the dogsitter's truck as he was parking.

"Carma jumped out of the passenger window and ran down Commercial Drive towards the two women and Teeny; approaching them from behind," Gove wrote in a dramatic retelling of the facts.

"Without any barking or growling, Carma grabbed Teeny's head in her mouth and bit. Carma dropped Teeny and ran off."

Carma was nabbed by police and animal control officer Guy Palanuik. She has been caged up at the city pound awaiting her fate ever since.

Dubois appealed to the court to save her beloved family pet. In Hope, Carma had more room and had never been a threat to anyone, she said.

Palanuik and a second canine behaviour expert testified at Carma's hearing.

Palanuik said Carma did not need to be destroyed and that she had shown no aggression toward humans. He passed off her aberrant behaviour as "prey drive."

"He said that dogs who live in the country for most of their lives, as he believed Carma had, sometimes recognize small dogs as rabbits, which they chase and kill. He testified that this is 'typical Rottweiler behaviour,' " Gove said in his ruling.

"In an apparent conflict with this evidence, he then went on to say: 'the behaviour of the incident does not fit this dog.' "

The second expert, Marion Postgate, testified that "once a dog has bitten like this, there is no assurance that it will not do so again."

Gove wasn't willing to take the risk.

"It is very sad that Teeny was killed as described. Her owner and others on Commercial Drive were understandably shocked. I am very concerned as to whether Carma may have acted in a similar manner if, instead of a small dog walking between Ms. Jacques and her cousin, there had been a small child, or a child in a buggy. Carma may have seriously injured or killed the child."

Pound officials said Wednesday that Carma is still there, pending any appeal launched on her behalf.

Lawyer Victoria Desroches, who represented Dubois, said Wednesday she believes Dubois is appealing Gove's ruling.

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THE PROVINCE
Latest News

One dog freed, but the other faces death row
Both held in shelter for past year

David Carrigg
The Province

Thursday, November 10, 2005

A despondent North Vancouver dog owner has lost his battle to save Brasco, a Staffordshire bull terrier that attacked a man last year.

However, Bella, the man's pit-bull cross, also involved in the attack, was spared by a provincial court judge.

"It's gone a long way and it's been a very large expense," said Ken Whittle, owner of the two dogs.

In August 2004, North Vancouver Mounties alleged the dogs attacked a 65-year-old North Vancouver man outside Whittle's glass business.

Police alleged Bella and Brasco were wandering freely and without muzzles -- contraventions of the vicious-dog bylaw -- in the 1400-block Dominion Street. Police then called for the destruction of both dogs.

At the time, RCMP Const. Jennifer Pound said the victim -- Grant Bray -- was bitten several times in the chest in an unprovoked attack.

Whittle, who was not present at the time of the attack, said it was not in his dogs' character to attack and he hired a lawyer to fight for his dogs' lives.

The dogs were transferred to the North Vancouver animal shelter, where they have been kept ever since.

Whittle said yesterday he does not believe the victim's story and insists the injuries were due to scratches, not bites.

"I had a witness, but the judge didn't seem to sway our way," he said.

According to court records, Ken Whittle is subject to a peace bond, with seven conditions, including that Bella go straight from the District of North Vancouver animal shelter to "the secure care and control of Scott Taylor, of Hollywood North Canine and Talent. It will undergo intensive one-month professional retraining."

After the dog has completed that training it will be returned to Whittle, provided he has built a special dog kennel and the dog must wear a muzzle and be on a short leash in public.

The judge decided to spare Bella because the dog is young and can be rehabilitated.

The judge ordered Brasco be put down on Dec. 15, leaving Whittle 30 days to appeal the ruling.

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