Residents of the Jackson Heights neighborhood in southeast Edmonton were outraged after two dogs attacked a man on Tuesday. They said the attack highlights safety concerns they have been reporting to the city’s animal control department for months.
The incident
Gordon Sopczak was working outside the house when he saw two dogs running towards him. While trying to avoid them, he tripped and was bitten by dogs. He sustained several injuries.
He said the dogs fit the description of animals previously seen loose in the area.
Edmonton Police and the City’s Animal Control team are investigating the incident.
An event that is not isolated
A few days before the incident, Christine St-Jean, a resident of the neighborhood, was contacted CBC News.
He was dissatisfied with the inaction of the City’s animal control department. He said he and several people have filed numerous reports of loose dogs that are sometimes aggressive with neighborhood residents.
Ms. filed. St-Jean of nearly 50 complaints. Incidents became more frequent last fall, he said.
He also posted videos showing dogs running wild around. In one clip, a resident can be seen holding a plank as the dog growls and barks at him.
In one of the many emails exchanged between him, employees of animal control and community services in December, it was mentioned that several fines had been issued to the owner of the animals and further action followed.
Brianna Murray, another resident, said she and her loved ones have had to chase dogs multiple times.
I can’t run and get a bottle for the baby because dogs can jump over the fence. It’s really scary that in the blink of an eye one of our children in this area could be bitten, said Murray.
” It is impossible to get into the house right away to get a bottle for the baby because the dogs can jump over the fence. It’s scary to think that, in the blink of an eye, one of the kids in the neighborhood might be bitten. “
A spokesman for the Animal Control Service said it was not possible to comment on complaints about the dogs or the recent attack as the investigation continues.
The dog owner
In a brief phone conversation with CBC Newsthe owner of the dogs admitted that they were a nuisance. He says he worked on animal control and he thinks things have improved. He said he did not get a ticket.
According to him, the neighbors exaggerated. She is also concerned about the dissemination, on social networks, of videos of her children in the company of dogs.
He did not respond to a request for CBC News for another interview.
The website of the Center for Animal Care and Control states that tickets are issued in cases where owners have received multiple fines for repeated violations, such as a barking dog or a loose dog, and for extreme cases such as serious dog attacks.
Higher fines may be imposed by the provincial court, which may also order the City to take an animal from its owner.
In files from Travis McEwan
Source: Radio-Canada
