From the Brindleweb messageboard
Posted By: Louise
Date: 07:06:42 12/23/2002

This happened on my block but 2 streets away, it was a horribly vicious attack. I believe they are crosses not full mastiffs. Sadly, this is not their first outing where they have done damage.

Posted By: Louise
Date: 14:00:02 12/23/2002

They (the media) have been contacted........the SPCA were called last year when they (the two dogs) attacked a dog in the neighbourhood but the SPCA did not respond to either of these calls. The police have been contacted with collateral info.
coincidence/?

Posted By: maria/
Date: 01:30:08 1/1/2003

Weren't the two pitx's that attacked and killed a little dog at Vanier park last month also from surrey, staying temp at a house in Vanc?
Could this possibly be the same dogs? Just a long shot...

Vancouver City Pound denies any previous reports of aggression:
EMILY YEARWOOD-LEE
Canadian Press

Sunday, December 22, 2002
VANCOUVER (CP) - A 14-year-old girl has been left with significant facial and nerve damage after being mauled and dragged by two dogs early Sunday.

"Veteran officers on the scene have never seen anything as horrible as this in their policing careers," police spokeswoman Const. Sarah Bloor said in a statement. The teenager was walking with a friend at 1:30 a.m. in east Vancouver when she was attacked by two unleashed dogs, said police. One of the dogs jumped onto the hood of a car and mauled the girl's head.

She was then forced to the ground and dragged about a half a block.

Neighbours heard the girls' screams and managed to chase off the dogs with pots, pans and sticks.

The teen was taken to hospital in serious condition and 12 officers were brought in to search for the animals.

Two unleashed dogs - bull mastiffs mixed with another breed - were located at about 10 a.m. and were taken to the city pound, where they underwent DNA testing, said Bloor.

"Police are satisfied at this time that we have the two dogs responsible for the attack against the 14-year-old girl," said Bloor.

It was "100 per cent" certain the two dogs in custody were the ones involved in the attack, said Bob Cristofoli, an animal control supervisor.

Neighbours who fought off the dogs were able to positively identify them, he said.

Cristofoli said his office was looking at having the animals put down.

"We talked to the dog owner and advised that that's what we're seeking and if they'd like to sign the dogs over to us for destruction, they can do that as well," he said.

CRISTOFOLI SAID THE POUND HAD NEVER RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME DOGS.

"WE HAVE HAD THE DOGS IN A COUPLE OF TIMES ON IMPOUND STATUS, BUT NEVER ANY AGGRESSION WHATSOEVER," he said.

An animal control officer, Kevin Mazer, said the two dogs were about four years old and each weighed roughly 85 pounds.

Bloor said she didn't "foresee any criminal charges against the owner, as far as criminal negligence.

"The owner would have had to be with the dog and not assisted the victim during the attack, or she would have had to advise the dogs to commit the offence in order for there to be any criminal charges."

She said police would not likely release the name of the victim or the dogs' owner.

"This is an incident that will change the life of this young girl," said Bloor.

© Copyright 2002 The Canadian Press