CALGARY – Two dog owners are facing multiple charges under a City of Calgary bylaw after an attack that led to the death of an 86-year-old woman.
Police officers and paramedics were called June 5 to a neighbourhood in northwest Calgary, where they found the injured senior who later died.
“Calgary Community Standards has charged two dog owners in relation to the fatal dog attack,” chief bylaw officer Ryan Pleckaitis said at a news conference Wednesday.
“The charges were under the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw.”
The city had seized three dogs, which are believed to be a North American pit bull-terrier mix, a North American Staffordshire mix and an American pit bull, on the day of the attack.
“The animals continue to be held pending the outcome of a dangerous dog application,” said Pleckaitis, noting there have been some challenges housing the dogs at the city facility.
The application submitted to the Court of Queen’s Bench by the city asks for the dogs to be put down. It is to be in court on July 28 to set a date for the hearing.
“We believe that they pose a significant risk to public safety,” Pleckaitis said.
Denis Bagaric and Talyn Calkins, who own the dogs, were each charged Tuesday with 12 offences. Those include an animal attack on a person, an animal bite to a person and an animal running at large.
“All 12 counts result in a mandatory court appearance,” said Pleckaitis. “If convicted, each offence carries a maximum penalty of $10,000 and, in default of payment of any fine imposed, up to six months’ imprisonment.”
He said Bagaric and Calkins are scheduled to appear in court in relation to the charges on Sept. 14. They could not be reached for comment.
Pleckaitis said an animal attack on a person is the “most egregious” offence under the bylaw.
Calgary police confirmed Wednesday its officers are still investigating potential criminal charges.
After the woman’s death, both the city and Alberta Health Services also ordered reviews into why it took an ambulance 30 minutes to respond to the dog attack.
Alberta Health Services, which runs emergency medical services, said the initial 911 call was sent to police based on information provided from the scene.
A neighbour who called 911, however, said she asked for an ambulance and did her best to tell the dispatcher what was going on.
Officials said EMS had triaged the “dog bite” as non-life-threatening based on information received from the city’s 911 call centre. Police then notified EMS when they arrived on the scene that the patient’s injuries were serious.
The City of Calgary said at the time it would conduct its own investigation into the call and fully supports the independent review by Alberta Health Services.
The independent review, which is expected by September, is being done by the Health Quality Council of Alberta with the help of two experts from outside the province. It is to look into the calls made to emergency dispatch, ambulance response time and availability of ambulances at the time.
By Colette Derworiz
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 20, 2022.
The Canadian Press
