The Owners Of 3 Dogs That Fatally Attacked A Woman In June Are Facing Charges Under Calgary Law

Police were called to the northwest Capitol community on the afternoon of June 5 for reports of an 86-year-old woman being attacked by three dogs. Paramedics took the woman to hospital in life-threatening condition, but she died a short time later. Denis Bagaric and Talyn Calkins face charges. They were charged with three counts of animal attack on a person causing serious injury, three counts of animal attack on a person, three counts of animal bite on a person and three counts of an animal at large. The charges lead to a mandatory appearance in district court. Each offense carries a maximum fine of $10,000 or up to six months in jail for an unpaid fine. As the owners were charged jointly, this means a maximum of $120,000 if convicted of all offences. “For purposes of enforcing our bylaw, we don’t need to know … how the dogs got out. We need to know that they got out, and it’s clear they did,” said Ryan Pleckaitis, chief of bylaws for the city. The three dogs involved in the attack are being held by the city. (Denis Bagaric/Facebook) According to the Responsible Pet Ownership Regulations, dogs must remain under the control and sight of their owner. Other charges related to the bite and assault were “easily established,” Plekaitis said. Calgary police are continuing to investigate possible criminal charges related to the incident. The three dogs, a North American pit bull terrier mix, a North American Staffordshire mix and an American pit bull, were seized by community police after the attack and have since been in city custody. The city has filed a dangerous dog petition with the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench asking that the dogs be euthanized. The dogs will continue to be held pending the outcome of the application. “In the records of the city of Calgary, there was no prior history with these three animals,” Pleckaitis said. “We are seeking to humanely euthanize them as we believe they pose a significant risk to public safety.” The independent review of the 911 call and delayed response to the incident is ongoing.