All Dogs Potentially Dangerous Admits Bylaw Manager
Prince George, B.C. – A vicious Pitbull attack on an elderly woman in Ginters Field a week and a half ago has reignited the debate about what constitutes a dangerous dog.
Under the City of Prince George’s Animal Control Bylaw it means a Pit Bull, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and their crosses however Bylaw Services Manager Fred Crittenden admits all dogs are potentially dangerous.
“Yes, by all means any dog could fall into that category if they’ve bitten someone and caused severe injury or there’s a potential for that. Some of the worst dog bites I’ve seen involved a Lab or a German Shepherd.”
He says he hasn’t worked in PG long enough (five months) to know whether or not the bylaw is working but admits it’s complaint driven.
“For the most part yes. It’s very important that the community reports to us any actions of a dog they feel is a danger to themselves or other members of the community so that we can at least look into the situation.”
So far this year Crittenden says there have been 41 complaints of either dog bites or dog attacks which he estimates is about four percent of the city’s total animal control calls and about one percent of bylaw service calls.
He says the city hasn’t identified any problem areas either.
“Not really. No one area jumps out. Wherever you have off-leash areas you have the potential of conflict between dogs and people or even dogs and wildlife.”
Crittenden says there’s also follows a certain protocol the city follows after a person’s been attacked.
“Our staff would investigate, see whether or not there’s evidence of a violation of the bylaw. Determine whether or not it was serious enough to have a dog declared dangerous and in some cases determine whether or not we have to seek a destruction order through our bylaw or through the Community Charter.”
But he can’t comment on the Ginters Field attack noting it’s “before the courts.”
In closing, Crittenden says anyone who owns a dangerous dog needs to go the “the extra mile” to ensure it’s under control. That means the owner should consider measures such as having the dog muzzled, or avoiding off-leash parks.
Comments
Some people shouldn`t have a dog.
Very few dogs are actually dangerous when they are raised properly.
problem is so easily solved, get rid of off leash areas unless they are confined with a 6 foot fence.
Then if people enter they do so at their own risk , knowing there is a risk of getting bit, and if they get bit…tough bananas.
I think they should actually add cats to that leash law…if ut of their property to be on a leash…and yes they do quite well on a leash…contrary to what some people will say.
There is a resort in Winfield that has a leash law that includes all pets/animals… even seen a ferret on a leash…. so it could work…
Was there ever a case anywhere, where a house cat has placed someone in the hospital in serious condition.
Dog bylaw enforcement is a joke in Prince George. The two brothers who are supposed to do this job don’t even live in PG but reside at Ness Lake and commute to the City using taxpayer funded, City of PG trucks.
Walking trails and parks in PG are frequented by unleashed, uncontrolled dogs that dump their feces everywhere. There owners do not clean up after them.
The dog situation in PG and the lack of enforcement is a disgrace!!!!
We have bylaw services?
Of course the bylaw is working, why every pit bull cross I see out there is leashed and muzzled while out in public, this was just a isolated rare incident…
Not
I agree that dog bylaw enforcement is a joke. Because it is complaint driven, some people are less inclined to report infractions. If for no other reason than to avoid clashing with the dog owners.
Being complaint driven allows the City enforcement people to do nothing unless they get a complaint. So as a result we have dogs dumping all over town, owners gazing at the sky pretending they are unaware of the dogs actions, and of course bylaw enforcement officers on the payroll, but not looking for offenders (because they have no complaints).
Rather a strange way to do business. At the very least these bylaw officers should be able to watch the school yards in the evenings, and on week ends and charge anyone who allows their dog to defecate on school property. This would be a good start.
I think it would be fair to say that if these dogs were dumping on property at City Hall, or biting (attacking) City staff the situation would be dealt with in a timely manner
So, the golden retriever that was aggressive; or the cocker spaniel that is dog aggressive to mine? They need to go on the ‘dangerous dog’ list too.
It’s the OWNERS, and the TRAINING (or lack of!!!) that is the biggest problem. There are lots of small dogs that have no training and are ‘dangerous’ too.
Just make liability insurance mandatory. The insurance companies will very quickly determine risk and your premiums will reflect such.
f-151
no I doubt there have been many cat attacks, it is more of ensuring people maintain control of their pets, and there a lot who don’t.
Any dog can be declared a dangerous dog by bylaws and has to follow the same rules as your pit bull ntkr14. Do you have a muzzle and leash? Did you know dangerous dogs also need a placard on the gate of the yard they are in so no one accidentally lets them out or gets attacked by them? Sizes and what needs to be on the sign is in the bylaw, you should probably read it.
@ntkr14 Pit Bulls and their cross breeds are not deemed ‘dangerous dogs’ but rather ‘restricted dogs’ – look up the bylaw at the city hall website. (Although restricted dogs are required to follow the same rules as dangerous dogs they are not labelled dangerous dogs). Just like in guns you have ‘restricted’ weapons which have different handling rules than your every day thirty odd six hunting rifle. Ignorance of the rules is no excuse for not following them.
I’m surprised the Comments section hasn’t been flooded with Pit Bull loyalists/apologists/defenders yet.
Dumb owners have dumb dogs, hence laws.
I went for a walk around the Jardine loop at Cluculz lake the other day. Seems no one out there that walks their dog picks up after it. Same as dog crap park along Domano, between Gladstone and Malaspina.
Yes, if the dogs were a danger to the bureaucrats at City Hall, the City Manager, the Mayor and Council, something would soon be done about the problem.
We would soon have city residents hired for animal control rather than Ness Lake residents, with a reduced cost to the taxpayers of PG.
Cats on a leash! Bahahahaha! People can’t even get the dog lease rules straight. Let’s start there then go after those people attacking cats.
I truly hope that lady sues the ash off the city for not enforcing the restricted breed bylaw!
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