(Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Bad dog

Resident wants action on dangerous dog

Jun 17, 2020 | 2:36 PM

A dog barking in the night, a mess on your front lawn – from time to time we may all have problems with our neighbor’s pets.

But for one Prince Albert woman, the situation with her neighbour’s German Shepherd has escalated to the point where she says she now does not leave her home, even to walk to her car, without carrying a bat as protection against the animal.

The East Hill resident took her case to city council on Monday night, accompanied by her mother. The pair said the woman has made several complaints to bylaw about the dog since it was adopted nine months ago and the owner had been ticketed accordingly. However, they now believe more drastic action is needed.

They told councillors they want the dog removed from the current owner’s care or designated as a dangerous animal, a step that would require enhanced safety measures like the installation of a high fence and muzzling it when outside.

“I fear if something’s not done with this dog, there will be tragic consequences for either [my daughter] and her dog or someone who’s just walking by,” the mother told council. She cited the dog owner admitting to it killing her own smaller dog.

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paNOW has chosen not to identify the complainant. Council documents did not disclose the exact address.

The daughter claims the dog has jumped over the four foot chain link fence which currently separates her property from the dog owner’s and it then tried to attack her.

“[My daughter] has been unable to enjoy daily activities, mainly being in her backyard due to the fear of what this dog can and will do,” the mother said.

Councillors expressed sympathy for the resident’s concerns and voted unanimously to have the bylaw manager bring a report on the issue.

Ward councillor Dennis Nowoselsky said the resident had brought the problem dog to his attention before.

“It’s dragged on, we’re waiting for a court date,” he told the meeting. “But something has to be done to address it.”

Mayor Greg Dionne similarly promised to help the resident.

“We’ll do whatever we can within our powers,” he said during the meeting. “And we may have to change our powers to correct it.

“We’ll have our lawyer on it.”

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom