This letter was sent to the District of 撸奶社区and copied to The Chief for publication.
On Feb. 26 while my husband and I were out for a walk in our neighborhood around noon, we were accosted by two dogs running down a driveway on
Plateau Drive and onto the street. We were surprised by their barking but continued walking, when one of them became overly aggressive approaching me from behind, growling and biting me on the back of the leg just above the ankle.
Fortunately I was wearing heavy sock and trouser material that his teeth weren't able to penetrate, but the force of the bite was such that it continued smarting for an hour afterwards.
We returned home to report the incident to Animal Control. She said she would dispatch the officer as soon as she had finished with business on the previously reported incident and saying that she only had one officer to take care of all complaints. From our conversation, I had the impression that she may have already known about these dogs - when I described the breed and size, she asked me if one dog was wearing a blue collar, and the other dog a red one, and also asked which one of them did the biting. I was too shaken to remember these details, but I knew for certain that it was the smaller of the two dogs that bit me.
I greatly appreciated the quick response by our Animal Control staff. They advised me this morning that these two dogs were impounded.
Too many times in recent years, we have walked along the Stawamus River dike and found owners with not one, but two or three dogs - off the leash. I have had my clothes soiled by "friendly" dogs out for a walk with simple-minded, indifferent owners. I have been approached from front and rear by two pit bulls sniffing my ankles, unable to proceed for fear that a wrong move this way or that might result in an attack. "I love my dog - he likes everyone - so why should you mind if he jumps on you" is the message I'm getting.
We should be able to leave our house without having to bring along pepper spray, a cell phone, or a good strong walking stick. Does it have to escalate to the point where someone else, perhaps a child on their way to school, is attacked as I was today?
Irresponsible dog ownership should not have to be tolerated. In 撸奶社区we don't seem to be making any progress with regards to keeping dogs under control. You're probably already aware from several articles in our local newspaper that dogs running off leash and simply being allowed to run the streets at will, is happening far too often, in Valleycliffe in particular.
As a solution to this continuing problem, I would like to suggest that pet owners be made to comply with more effective by-law enforcement and an imposition of stiffer fines - zero tolerance, until this problem is brought under control. Perhaps the Animal Control Bylaw (No. 1315), which was last revised in 1994 could use some updating - the fines seem inadequate in current terms.
Patricia Vesely
Squamish
