A woman was taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries after a dog attack Tuesday night.
Enforcement Services says around 9:30 p.m. a woman was walking her small dogs in the area of 86 Street and 103 Avenue when they say two loose Pit Bull type dogs attacked them. When officers arrived they found two injured people, one of them was the owner who was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Enforcement Services Manager Kelly Kokesch says they were able to “contain” one dog at the scene.
“We’re still looking for the other dog that departed the scene and hasn’t been seen since. He may be at large and he is a tan and white pit bull type dog.”
He says as of Wednesday afternoon there had been no reported sightings of the missing dog.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, posts went up on Grande Prairie social media forums warning of the loose dog. The victim of the attack has also posted to social media thanking first responders and QEII staff for their work.
Kokesch appeals for calm saying he would ask people not to pick sides.
“Every situation is different with animals and people so just be respectful of peoples space and time, especially with their own animals. And also with the victim and with the injuries she sustained.”
He explained the investigation is in the very early stages and they are taking it very seriously.
“We look at the history of the owners and the animal, especially the animals if there’s any previous history on them for aggressive behaviour or bites or barking or anything like that. It’s basically an administrative review. Then we proceed at that point and pick a tact as to what is the proper thing to do.”
Kokesch adds euthanizing the dog is not their first reaction that it is a possible outcome.
“In the most serious of incidents with an extensive history that is a last case scenario where we could proceed in that direction. It’s certainly not the preferred initial direction. We certainly have to go step-by-step to get to that point.”
He says history will play the biggest role in the decision and the dog’s behaviour when they encounter them.
Kokesch says anyone who may see the dog should call Enforcement Services at 780-830-5790 or the RCMP at 780-830-5700. He adds if a dangerous incident is happening with any animal, call 911.