Dear Editor,
On January 11, 2016 at approximately 9:30 p.m. in Cecile Martin Park, my wife, my pet Shiba Inu (dog who was on a leash) and I were attacked by a young, ferocious pit bull. My dog was seriously injured and my wife and I were pushed down into the snowbanks as we struggled to loosen the pit bull’s grip on our dog’s shoulder and neck. When the pit bull finally released its grip on my dog, my dog ran away and fortunately, the pit bull did not resume its attack on my wife and I, as we lay totally spent in the snow. After many hours of searching through the night and into the next day, we, along with other searchers including the RCMP, our friends, the pit bull owners and strangers, found Louis, injured, running down a road several miles north of Barrhead. As possibly only other seniors can relate, pets take on more meaning at that time of life as your own children have moved away and started their lives. We were absolutely horrified by the events that night. We were unbelievably distraught regarding the fate of our lost pup, not knowing his fate with respect to the seriousness of his injuries. In addition, he had never spent the night outside in Alberta cold.
Firstly, I want to state that the pit bull owners appear to be very honourable and conscientious people who have offered to pay for my dog’s medical bills. Pit bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Blue Heelers, other attack type breeds and all large dogs, do not belong within town limits of Barrhead or any other residential area. That is the reason many residential areas of the country have banned them. Many of these dogs are thrown in basements or backyards by their owners and seemingly forgotten with no consideration for the psychological well-being of the dog. How will they respond to other animals, other people, children, etc.? My wife and I are very glad that one or more of our grandchildren were not present during the attack as they tend to act, without consideration, to protect our dog and could have been severely injured and traumatized or worse. This is the fourth attack here, in the person of either my wife or myself, and many more on my leashed dog by unleashed vicious dogs. Enough is enough!
Take notice – this dog and others like it live next to our parks, our playgrounds and our schools. We supposedly have bylaws in Barrhead that leashes on dogs and cats and that restrict home owners to a maximum of two. I can tell you firsthand that at least two councillors have dogs often found running loose on the streets and there is a household in our area with at least four canines (some big and ferocious breeds).
Mayor and town councillors – pass bylaws making the ownership of big and ferocious breeds of dog illegal within the limits of Barrhead and, unlike almost every other bylaw, force the town administration to enforce them. Our new peace officer seems eager and willing to enforce these regulations, but requires support of the administration and of council. It seems to me that the first job of mayor and council is to protect the life and property of all of its residents.
Currently, the pathway lights in Cecile Martin Park shut off at about 9 p.m. every night. We frequently meet teenage children walking alone in that darkness. Councillors, please have that lighting on from dusk to dawn. That is what the residents paid for in the new lighting.
Barrhead residents – call your councillor and tell them that you want this bylaw enacted before someone is seriously injured or killed (it may be someone in your family).
Fred &Sharan Setterington
