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Horse, two women attacked by pit bull
'This dog had the look of kill in its eyes,' says one victim
Kent Spencer
The Province
Monday, March 21, 2005
One of the victims of a weekend pit-bull attack is demanding the dog be put down.
The dog ran amok on a Langley horse acreage, attacking two women and a horse.
"I'm numb. It's been a nightmare," said Ruth Sweet, 61. "My back and neck are wrenched. I can walk. That's about it."
Bucked off her horse, Sweet was taken to hospital on Saturday for observation. She also suffered a bite wound on her foot, but her thick boot prevented penetration.
The other victim, Janet Mathies, was bitten on the finger.
"The dog was puncturing holes through the skin of the horse with every bite," Mathies said.
"This dog had the look of kill in its eyes. There is no doubt in my mind this dog should be destroyed."
Dixie, a two-year-old mare, suffered puncture wounds to her underside.
People in the area say the pit bull, named Max, is one of four aggressive dogs belonging to a neighbouring family.
Neighbours describe the family -- a mother, her son and his girlfriend -- as "nice," but say the dogs, including a Doberman and Rottweiler-cross, have been a problem in the past.
Mathies said the dog's owner "crawled through the fence in her stocking feet to assist us and began hitting the pit bull with a fence post."
The dog was eventually chased away from Sweet's property in the 2700 block 216th Street.
"It was terrifying," said Sweet's partner, John Reidl. "I can't understand why people would have an animal like that."
Sweet, who makes her living training quarterhorses, said students and horses have been spooked.
"Dixie has puncture wounds," she said. "She's sedated, but she's still upset. These aren't cheap
horses. They're show horses. I'm worried about the dog if it gets loose again."
Aaron Ostrom of the Langley Animal Shelter said the case is being investigated.