Edmonton Sun

Wed, April 25, 2007
Bruiser the biting pit bull must die, says owner

By MAX MAUDIE, SUN MEDIA

The rampaging pit bull that attacked three people Monday was previously involved in another attack and city officials will likely apply to have the dog killed.

Since Monday's attack, which saw two victims sent to hospital with bites, Bruiser has been incarcerated at the city pound.

"There's concerns with the dog owner's ability to keep the dog on the property," said David Aitken, director of complaints and investigations for the city bylaw department.

He also said Bruiser was once involved in a similar attack. Aitken, however, wouldn't give details because the investigation continues into the Monday incident.

City lawyers are "likely" to apply to have the dog classified as dangerous, which if successful will result in Bruiser being destroyed.

Monday afternoon, near 101 Street and 81 Avenue, Bruiser somehow got out of the fenced property he guards and is housed on, Extreme Velocity Custom Autoworks & Detailing Ltd.

A woman lost a chunk of leg in the following attack, a man got stitches to his left calf and right knee after being bit, and another woman was nipped at but wasn't hurt.

Yesterday, a sales manager at Extreme Velocity said the dog's owner had decided Bruiser should likely be put down.

Steffen Van Gogh wouldn't say who owned the dog, but said getting rid of the pit bull is likely the best decision.

"There's not really anybody here that can watch the dog all the time," said Van Gogh. He said the dog once bit a homeless person who'd somehow got into Extreme Velocity's yard.

Aitken said Bruiser had been seized and will remain in quarantine for at least 10 days while veterinarians look for signs of rabies.

"Right now, the matter is under investigation and charges are pending," he said.

Pit bulls are on the city's list of restricted dogs. It also includes any dog with a history of chasing or attacking people or animals. They must have a special city licence and owners must have $1-million of liability insurance.

Once off property, the dogs must be kept under control, muzzled and leashed.

If the dog chases, attacks, or bites a person or other animal, even without injury, fines can also be issued.

Fines range from $500 to $2,500 per incident, and the city is investigating Bruiser on all fronts.

Van Gogh said that after the attack, he noticed a hole in the fence around Extreme Velocity that he said wasn't there earlier that morning.
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