Lethbridge Animal Shelter. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Lethbridge dog owner charged after two youths bitten

Jul 21, 2022 | 3:42 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Charges have been laid following a pair of dog attacks in Lethbridge earlier this month.

Just before noon on July 13, Community Animal Services (CAS) says two “terrier-type breeds” were reported loose and unattended in the schoolyard of Dr. Gerald B. Probe Elementary School in the 100 block of Rocky Mountain Boulevard West. The initial media release from the Lethbridge Police Service indicated that the dogs were pit bulls.

An eight-year-old boy was attending a summer camp in the school yard at the time. One of the dogs approached the boy and bit him in the face.

A 17-year-old girl, who was working at the summer camp, was bitten on the arm when she tried to intervene and protect the boy.

Both were taken to hospital by EMS and were treated for their injuries. Other attendees at the summer camp were escorted to safety.

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The dogs, who belong to the same owner, were seized by Animal Bylaw Enforcement Officers and held at the Lethbridge Animal Shelter.

One of the dogs has been returned to its owner under strict conditions as it was not directly involved in the biting incidents.

The other dog, which is accused of biting, will remain in the custody of CAS pending the outcome of a court hearing under Alberta’s Dangerous Dogs Act.

The owner of the dogs has been charged under the City of Lethbridge’s Dog Control Bylaw 5235 with two counts of a dog running at large, two counts of failure to license a dog, and one count each of a dog biting a person and a dog injuring a person.

The name of the dog owner has not been released. CAS says they will not be releasing any further information on this case as it is currently before the courts.