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Savage pit bulls caught Orchard worker has severe injuries

Stuart Hunter
The Province

Friday, May 20, 2005

One of two pit bulls euthanized after a savage attack on an Okanagan orchard worker this week was apprehended by animal-control officers just one month ago for chasing cattle.

Bruce Smith, spokesman for the Regional District of the Central Okanagan, confirmed the one-year-old pit bull involved in Monday's attack was picked up last month but, because it didn't have a dangerous-dog designation, it was released to its owner after payment of the necessary fines.

"At that time, our animal-control staff picked up the dog and took it to the pound," Smith said yesterday. "Because no complaint was pursued against the dog, the owner came to the pound and paid the various fees and claimed the dog, and the dog was released."

The two owners of the licensed one-year-old pit bull and an unlicensed four-year-old voluntarily gave the animals up for euthanasia on Wednesday -- the same day the unidentified victim had his second round of surgery at Kelowna General Hospital for multiple wounds to his arms and hands.

Smith said the man was working in an orchard on Goldie Road in Lake Country when the dogs attacked.

"We don't know what provoked it," Smith said. "He managed to get them off him and he wandered out to Goldie Road, where a passing motorist saw him and saw the blood and stopped his vehicle and called him to get in."

A friend of the victim said his injuries are severe.

"All his muscle and his nerves were chewed out, and they're afraid maybe his left arm won't move," said Sajid Raja.

The dogs, who neighbours reported had been running loose since the weekend, were captured by animal- control officers.

Smith said the owners face fines ranging from $75 to $200.

Lake Country RCMP said no criminal charges are forthcoming.

Smith said the incident could re-open the debate on a ban on specific breeds of dogs in the region. But he added statistics show pit bulls were not responsible for the majority of attacks in the region in 2004.

"In the past, our dog advisory committee has looked at the issue of banning pit bulls, but at that time they decided it was not fair to pick on any one breed, as all dogs have the ability to attack," Smith said, adding the fines for multiple-offender dogs were recently increased. "It's possible this attack will renew discussion among the committee."