Didsbury dog owner expected to surrender dogs after attack
Posted Aug 2, 2011 9:03 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The owner of two Akita dogs will meet with officials today to discuss the possibility of surrendering her animals.
They’re accused of viciously mauling a Didsbury couple last Tuesday.
Andrea Strang has been charged with two counts of a dog biting a person and one count of causing damage to another dog and will have a court appearance September 2nd.
Due to a lack of facilities in Mountain View County, Calgary By-law’s Greg Steinraths confirms the canines are in the city’s care.
“They’re undergoing a rabies check, which is a ten day limit that you have to sit on that,” he says. “And then we will continue to provide a level of care with our vets and health techs.”
Mountain View is pushing for the court case and if convicted, Strang could face a maximum jail sentence of six months and a fine of $10,000.
County officials want the animals put down and are promising that nothing would happen until their seven puppies are weened.
The dogs were in the garage last Tuesday, when the 27-year-old victim and his 28-year-old girlfriend were attacked.
They were leaving their rental home with their beagle, when they came across the animals in the garage of the property they share with Strang.
Their injuries are said to be extensive and neither one has so far returned to work.
Akita Club of Alberta President Sherri Davidson says this type of incident isn’t typical for the breed.
She blames inexperience on the part of the owner.
“We have to remind ourselves that all dogs have a basic instinct, all humans, mammals, have a basic instinct to protect their young,” she says.
Davidson adds her organization is hoping to work with those involved to help find them homes, if it’s not too late.
Mountain View County Director of Legislative Services Jeff Holmes tells 660News they will be meeting with the owner today to discuss what happens next.
“The owners can determine whether or not they want to surrender them and sign a release that they can be euthanized and then the trial would go to court,” he explains.
