Sun, June 18, 2006
Dog outrage
Pet owners stop man from hitting pooch with chain leash

By ELIZA BARLOW, EDMONTON SUN

Outraged dog owners were fuming yesterday after confronting a man who they claim was "thrashing" his dog with a metal chain in a Mill Woods off-leash park.

"I feel sick," said a visibly upset Nicole Lockhart.

The man was not charged by police, nor was the dog taken away.

The drama began at Jackie Parker Park, at 50 Street and 45 Avenue, at around 2:30 p.m.

Lockhart told the Sun the park was full of dogs and owners, including an elderly man and his dog.

When the dog went toward a patch of mud, the elderly man started "screaming" at the animal, saying, "You're going to get it this time,' " said Lockhart.

The dog appeared to be a young collie-cross.

Then the man pulled a chain leash out of his pocket, looped it three times and started hitting the dog on its back, according to Lockhart and other witnesses.

At that point, 17-year-old Michelle Linklater, who came with Lockhart to the dog park, went over to the man and started pleading with him to stop.

"We ran in and intervened and asked him to stop," said Lockhart. "The dog was howling, everybody around heard the dog howling. Everyone was yelling, 'Run, run, take him.' "

Lockhart said she then took the man's dog with her and put it in her van, locking the door. But the man managed to unlock the van and got the dog out.

Then a group of dog owners followed him as he walked his dog across the dog park and through a stand of trees. He was met on the other side by city cops, who had been phoned by dog owner Ben Sinclair, 37.

"I don't agree with what he did," said Sinclair.

Angry dog owners filled out police witness statements as the elderly man and his dog sat in the back of a police cruiser.

"You need to take care of your dog the right way," one woman told the man through an open window of the cruiser.

City police Const. Jenn Sandmaier said police planned to consult with animal control officers to determine whether any action would be taken against the dog owner.

Sandmaier said the dog owner was not arrested or charged, just detained.

"There's no overt physical injuries to the dog. He's not bleeding, he's not cut open."
Got a News Tip?