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Beware of Dog

Posted by Kilcona Park Dog Club / in Information /

UPDATE: Nov 20, 2012

The Board of Directors would like to thank Kilcona Park Dog Club members and many others in Kilcona’s dog park community who stepped forward to provide important information that finally lead to the identification of Tank’s owner. Tank, as most of you are aware, is the dog that mauled Emma at the park on October 25^th.

Tank’s owner’s identity has been reported to Winnipeg Animal Services Agency and Tank has not been seen at Kilcona for the past four weeks.

The Board received the following email from Emma’s mom.

“We can’t thank you enough for your assistance, as we would not have been able to find him without your help. Can you please post the following on the Kilcona Dog Park web page?

“Thank you from Emma and her family for all of your concern and good wishes. Emma is recovering well and has even had a few outings to the dog park, where she has enjoyed playing with her friends!  We are pleased to report she has not shown any adverse effects to the incident and gets excited when we mention the words “puppy park”. We are very grateful for the support and assistance of the Kilcona Dog Park community.”

Thanks again for your help with this.”

 

On October 25 a serious mauling occurred in Kilcona’s off-leash area. A male bull mastiff named Tank attacked and injured a small border collie/lab cross named Emma. Tank is a beige/ fawn mastiff. He was accompanied by his owner and a brindle mastiff.

The attack was unprovoked and came without warning. The victim’s wounds were very deep. It took Emma’s owners half an hour to stop the bleeding. Focused on saving her life, Emma’s family neglected ask Tank’s owner for his contact information.

Emma required surgery. Two weeks later, she’s recovering but it will be another two weeks before the staples can be removed. The vet bill was $1,000.

Tank’s owner admitted to Emma’s owner that his dog is very aggressive with other dogs. The owner brings Tank to Kilcona regularly but normally keeps him on leash. That night, thinking he was alone, he allowed his dog to run loose.

It is against the law to take knowingly aggressive dogs to Winnipeg’s off leash parks and Emma’s owners have reported the incident to Winnipeg Animal Services Agency.

The Board of Kilcona Park Dog Club is asking for your assistance in keeping the park safe for everyone. If you see a dog matching Tank’s description at the park, please protect your own dog(s) – give Tank a very wide berth. If you have any information about this dog, please email – president@kilconaparkdogclub.ca.

Pet-iquette Brochure Released!

Posted by Kilcona Park Dog Club / in Information /

NEWS! COUNCILLORS JEFF BROWATY AND THOMAS STEEN HELP FUND INITIATIVE TO UNLEASH GOOD MANNERS

Winnipeg’s dog park organizations announce a new initiative to make the city’s off-leash areas safer and more enjoyable.

In response to complaints about human and animal misbehaviour in Kilcona, Little Mountain and Maple Grove off-leash areas, the city’s dog park associations have joined forces, collaborating to publish a new pet etiquette and safety brochure. The initiative is designed to promote good behavior, reduce conflict, and provide safe off-leash environments for dogs and people.

“Pet-iquette” promotes responsible dog ownership and respectful park stewardship. According to Maple Grove Dog Owners Association’s Rosylyn Jones-Smith, “Winnipeg’s twelve off-leash areas are great places…if everyone obeys the rules, and exercises courtesy and common sense. However one irresponsible person can ruin it for everyone.”

Jones-Smith points out, “Most new dog owners have no idea what to expect the first time they visit a dog park. They need to know about health and safety issues; licenses, vaccinations, what to bring – and what not to bring to the park. The new brochure will also help people choose a dog park that is best suited to their pet.”

While serious injuries in off-leash areas are rare, posts like the following one on the Kilcona Dog Park Winnipeg FaceBook page indicate that they’re not unknown.

“To the lady at the dog park tonight: I’m sorry I used foul language. I…admit that my dog was 50% responsible for the scuff that they got into. But I am still stunned that you did not leash your dog, did not attempt to control it, and then stood there telling me my dog wasn’t hurt as three of us tried to stop the bleeding…

The tussle was ‘just one of those things’ that dogs do…but at the end of the day your dog bit mine, drawing blood. I hope for his sake that you learn to control him better. I’d hate to see such a beautiful dog put down for behaviour the owner refused to acknowledge or control.”

“Pet-iquette” was funded in part by a City of Winnipeg Per Capita Grant and approved by Winnipeg Animal Services Agency.

The brochure will be widely distributed through veterinary clinics, and the city’s animal shelters and rescues. An electronic version of the brochure is available on the clubs’ websites. Our brochure can be accessed in the Pet-iquette page or click on this link: Pet-iquette Brochure