CALGARY — A Calgary family say three pitbulls attacked their dogs, killing one, “without warning” at an off-leash park.
Shanese Best and her brother were at the park Monday with their dogs when the pitbulls attacked.
Patrick, a Pomeranian, died of his injuries, while Best’s other dog, a Great Pyrenees named Maximus, was severely injured.
The owner of the pitbulls says he regrets what happened and is sincerely sorry, but suggested the dogs were provoked.
Stephen Jaquish says he owns one of the pitbulls and was dog-sitting the other two.
The pitbulls have been seized by Animal Services and will likely undergo behaviour testing to see whether they should be returned to the owner or euthanized.
“Catastrophic was the best way to describe it,” says Best’s father, Scott McDowell. “Imagine a chew toy. Two pitbulls were fighting over a chew toy and that chew toy was Patrick.”
Jaquish said it was horrible to watch the attack.
“My son is in tears. They lost their dog and my son is losing his dog too — a dog who would never hurt anybody. She’s being deemed dangerous, but I think she was just protecting like any other dog would do.”