Staying put after a dog attack is not mandatory

Not stopping after your dog attacks another animal may not be illegal, but it is morally wrong, the RCMP say.

On Tuesday evening Amanda Pope was walking her 12-year-old beagle in Winfield, when she said a young woman jogged by her with a white Terrier, who then attacked Alice, her beagle.

Pope said that the woman carried on running and did not stop to make sure Alice was okay.

KelownaNow wanted to know the rules surrounding stopping and staying put if your dog attacks someone else’s. Kelowna RCMP said that failing to stop is not illegal.

“Obviously failing to stop, provide assistance and/or identify themselves is immoral. It may not necessarily constitute criminal negligence. This would of course vary from incident to incident,” explained Cst. Jesse O’Donaghey.

If a dog gets attacked by another animal the owner is asked to contact the Regional District of the Central Okanagan (RDCO).

Bruce Smith, Communications & Intergovernmental Affairs Officer with the RDCO said even though nowhere in the Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw does it state owners must stay at the scene of an incident, most do.

“Our experience suggests that most [stop] as a courtesy and share information. If an attack incident is reported to the RDCO Dog Control and Regional Dog Pound, our officers will investigate and determine the appropriate course of action.”

Pope decided not to file a report with the RDCO and instead wrote an open letter to the woman who failed to stop and ask if Alice would be okay. Bruce noted that the RDCO has not noticed that failing to stay at the scene of a dog attack has been a problem in the Okanagan.

Within the bylaw it states that “in the event of aggression or conflict with another dog or person, the Owner takes immediate physical control of his or her dog.”

If an owner fails to comply with the responsible dog ownership bylaw they are liable to a penalty of not less than $50 and not more than $2,000 for each offence.

Smith urged any owner whose dog has been attacked to contact the RDCO to file a report.