A Port Coquitlam couple who own a dog that bit a child will have an aggressive designation on their pet for the rest of its life.
This week, city council upheld the label following a second appeal hearing in which Angela and Baldwin Ma refused to attend.
Mayor Greg Moore said the pair was invited to the second hearing a number of times and, because they were a no-show at Monday's meeting, council was legally forced to watch the entire 92-minute videotape from the first appeal hearing in January.
During the lengthy screening, corporate manager Braden Hutchins dimmed the lights in the council chambers for the councillors and the highest-paid city managers who were present. Many caught up on work on their electronic devices while others glanced at the screen to hear the debates from six months ago.
Afterward, Coun. Mike Forrest called for the designation to be lifted on Cola, a 22-pound Bichon Frise/Shih Tzu cross that got loose from its teenage walker and ran to a boy walking with his daycare group near to Terry Fox secondary last July. The boy was attacked and is reportedly now afraid of dogs, council heard.
Forrest said the Mas have suffered and "understand…. The family and the dog and the dog owners have been through enough here. I think they have the message. It's time to be over."
But when it came to the vote, only Forrest was in favour of removing the designation.
Coun. Darrell Penner said council and staff have spent ample time on the case. "I can't believe we have gone through this much garbage," he said bluntly. "The dog hurt a child. It's straightforward."
His motion to leave the designation in place was opposed by Forrest and Coun. Dean Washington.
A second appeal hearing was held to allow for a full council to be present (in January, Coun. Brad West was out of the country on business).
Under Section 8 (3k) of the Community Charter, municipalities can regular, prohibit and impose requirements on animals.
PoCo's animal control bylaw allows for an aggressive dog designation if the canine has — without provocation — bitten, inflicted injury, assaulted, pursued or attacked a human.
The label means the owners must leash and muzzle the pet while in a public place and must be cared and controlled at all times.
Since July 2008, PoCo's bylaw division has issued at least 80 aggressive dog notices.
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