A Coquitlam woman and her dog are recovering after being attacked by a pit bull Sunday evening.
Nicole and her golden retriever, Lilly, were walking on Begin Street near her condo complex and had stopped to talk to a neighbour when the pit bull came after them.
Witnesses who spoke to CTV News said the pit bull was leashed but the owner couldn't control it.
Lilly was taken to an emergency veterinary clinic, where the dog underwent surgery, and the owner was also treated for cuts to her hand and arm.
Stephanie James, Coquitlam's acting director of legal and bylaw enforcement, said the city is investigating and will interview Nicole and other witnesses this week, after which the investigating officer will aim to identify the attacking dog and its owner and determine whether any tickets will be issued under the animal care and control bylaw.
"The officer may also recommend the attacking dog be deemed 'aggressive' or 'vicious' under the bylaw, depending on the nature of the injuries the victim dog and its owner suffered," James said in a press release. Dogs labelled aggressive or vicious are strictly regulated in terms of leash length, prohibitions on being in off-leash areas and, for vicious dogs, that they be kept in secured pens in their yards and leashed and muzzled when out in public.
Glen Spence, Coquitlam's acting manager of bylaw enforcement and animal services, said it's too early to comment on what tickets could be issued to the pit bull owner or whether the dog could be seized.
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