Dog recovering after being attacked in crosswalk by another dog; bylaw investigating

Hank, a four-year-old beagle, was on a walk with his owner Monday afternoon when they were attacked by two larger dogs.

“A young man in his car was able to pull over and scare off the dogs, and I was able to kind of run in the other direction,” said Amanda Doherty.

That young man caught the attack on his dash cam.

Doherty was crossing the road at Prestwick Street and Prestwick Link S.E. in McKenzie Towne.

She had Hank on a leash.

Then, she says two dogs, possibly a black lab and a heeler-type mix, attacked the pair.

“You could be doing all the right things. You’ve got your dog on a leash, you’re in broad daylight, you know the area, you do all you can do, but at the end of the day, just always be aware of your surroundings,” said Doherty.

“This was unfortunate that the dog came up from behind us, and I didn’t have any time to prepare.”

Hank suffered a bite mark to his neck and received 14 stitches to his left ear.

“For him to be kind of in my arms and hearing him crying, that was very traumatic for me and very sad,” said Doherty.

“The dog was not letting go. So, if that guy didn’t come and break it up, I don’t know,” said Doherty.

“I know for a fact I wasn’t letting go. I don’t know what would have happened. His ear might have been completely gone. It may have had to completely sever in order for us to get away.”

Doherty says she doesn’t know where the dogs came from and is unsure who the owner is.

“I don’t want other dogs to be harmed, and I feel for the owners and being on the other side of that is probably super sad, but at the end of the day, there are kids in the community, there are small dogs in the community, there are elderly people in the community,” said Doherty.

“These dogs just can’t get out and roam free and attack, especially unprovoked—it just can’t happen again.”

City of Calgary bylaw officers are investigating the attack.

“It appears a smaller dog was being walked on a leash and was bitten by a larger dog that was off-leash,” read a statement from the city.

“There was a second, larger dog, but it was not involved.

“The injured dog was treated at the vet and released back to its owner.”

The city says it has potentially identified the owner of the larger dogs, but that has not yet been confirmed.

Hank is recovering at home with his family with antibiotics and pain medication.