The past five days have been fraught with emotion for a woman from Moncton who tragically fell victim to an attack by a large dog in the heart of the city. Keeping her identity concealed due to her frequent presence in the area and fears of another incident, the woman, referred to as ‘Gail’, shared her petrifying ordeal.
On a quiet Friday afternoon, Gail was out walking her small pet dog when they were attacked by a dog, which she estimates weighed roughly 70 pounds. “The dog was terrifyingly swift”, explained Gail, clearly distressed. “It manifested seemingly from nowhere, happened so fast that thinking was not an option.”
In a bid to protect her terrified pet, Gail was besieged with bites and claw marks while desperately trying to shield her dog from the vicious assault. She nursed a severely damaged finger and is presently nursing numerous bruises across her body.
“I was trying to gather my little dog into my arms, and he just pulled me down. All I could do was cover her amidst her piercing squeals,” shared Gail, her voice choking with barely controlled emotions.
Kind-hearted bystanders who happened to be across the street during the incident bravely rushed in to provide assistance. One of them, Ernie Arsenault, was jolted into action upon hearing the dogs’ warring barks and noticed the bigger dog’s violent attack. He commented, “We were fortunate enough to be there. We managed to pull off the dog, potentially mitigating even more harm. The owner was shockingly doing nothing.”
When asked if the episode had been frightening, Arsenault replied with certainty, “Oh yes. It indeed was.”
City of Moncton’s bylaw officers were on-site during the distressing event. Gail recollects being advised to report to the RCMP. But the police recommended contacting SPCA instead, much to Gail’s annoyance. “It’s highly exasperating,” she expressed. “The predicament has been ill-addressed, and it’s left me feeling vulnerable.”
Refusing to comment directly, Chief Conrad Landry, Moncton’s fire chief and director of community safety, expressed his stance on a broader perspective. He affirmed that while it’s heartbreaking, inflicting dogs could be seized, their owners penalized, and in extreme situations, the animals euthanized, reminding dog owners about their responsibilities.
On that fateful day, the ferocious dog was uncontrolled, attached only to a backpack. People for Animal Wellbeing in Moncton (Moncton’s PAW) are investigating the case.
The attack victim, still shook from the incident, shared that she’s struggling with sleep and wants the dog to be seized. She mentioned, “The dog is excessively violent and not properly taken care of. While I understand it’s a failure on the part of the owner, some dogs are just irrevocably damaged.”
Her hope is this alarming issue will be addressed, allowing her to walk her dog without the constant fear for their safety.
