CALGARY — A Calgary family say they were attacked by the same dog that seriously injured a British Columbia woman who worked for a wolf conservation centre.
Global Calgary reports that Isabelle Simard was at Northern Wildlife Centre in Golden, B.C., last week when the company’s two pet Kareilian Bear dogs broke their leash and attacked her.
She is undergoing reconstructive surgery to her face at Foothills Hospital in Calgary.
Monika and Nathan Cicoria of Calgary say they, along with three small children, were leaving the tourist spot when the dog, named Utah, lunged at them.
Monika Cicoria says she picked up her child and the dog bit her back, going through four layers of clothing and leaving a gash 10 centimetres long.
The couple filed a report with the RCMP and followed up with the owners through email, seeking assurances it would never happen again.
In the emails, the operators of the wolf centre told the Cicorias how sorry they were about the situation. They added they were distraught over it and would ensure that Utah was kept away from the public.
The owners go on to say Utah would be kept behind a barrier keeping people away.
The centre initially released a statement saying last week’s attack was the first time the dog had been involved in a biting incident. But on Tuesday the centre admitted it had happened before.
Utah has been put down and the owners say the second dog involved doesn’t pose a public threat.