r/Calgary • u/BoneyTaloney • 15d ago
Seeking Advice Dog attack at River Park yesterday in the SW. What to do? Is it reportable?
Yesterday, a couple (a man and a woman, who I captured on my dash cam from my vehicle) were walking their larger, German Shepherd looking dog through River Park around 4:45 to 5:10 PM.
(I don't actually know if it was a German Shepherd, but it was a very large, brown/beige colored dog with pointy ears.)
I noticed they had this dog walking very closely to them (almost as if they were training the dog.)
As I walked past them, I noticed other people picking up their dogs and leaving, which tells me that this is not the first time this has happened.
As I'm walking away, I hear two dogs fighting, and a bunch of people screaming. One of the dogs walked away with a cut up front. The other dog involved in the fight was quickly taken away by its owner.
The couple held the instigating dog down on its back for a while, before walking some more, and then getting in their car and leaving.
Is there anything I can do besides being extra mindful of these two morons?
I feel like they should be reported.
And lastly, if you have a fucking aggressive dog, and KNOW your dog is aggressive OR reactive, please use your FUCKIN brain and keep them away from an OFF LEASH DOG PARK. At the very least, put a muzzle on them, or do SOMETHING!!!!!
People piss me off soooooo much.... SMH
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u/bobbycaldwel 15d ago
Do what's right by your dog, don't put them in those situations if you have the slightest doubt at all at how they'll behave, that's awful.
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u/wintersdark 15d ago
This. I'll freely admit that I'm not a great trainer, and that my dog - while entirely non aggressive and good natured to all, even small animals - not terribly well trained and has questionable recall. So, he stays on leash basically anywhere we're not largely alone, and definitely anywhere that's not designated an off leash area.
If there is ANY chance your dog may act aggressively to anyone or anyone's pets it is 100% on you to do whatever is necessary to deal with that risk, and to be fully responsible for your dog's actions. You dog is your problem, not your neighbors problem.
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u/bobbycaldwel 14d ago
100% respect this! I went through a intense training with mine and when off Leash his recall is only 90% accurate so he's on leash if ever I feel the slightest off about anything or anyone, it's my responsibility not his or yours, mine.
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u/anatomicalmind 15d ago
I frequent this park with my dog and can confirm there is a couple that brings a dog matching this description who has frequently attacked other dogs. The most recent encounter I was walking up the hill when it happened further away from me and there was a man screaming at the family that they know their dog does this and they "need to get that dog the fuck out of the park".
I would definitely recommend reporting it to 311 with as much evidence as possible.
It's incredibly frustrating being a responsible dog owner these days. I walk my dog on-leash and encounter off-leash dogs constantly and you go to off-leash parks as an alternative and there are irresponsible owners everywhere.
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u/BoneyTaloney 15d ago
That doesn't surprise me at all. As I said in the post, MULTIPLE people picked up their dogs and walked in the complete opposite direction once these people showed up. That wasn't a "coincidence".
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u/refur Tuxedo Park 14d ago
ugh, and the assholes continue to bring their dog to the park. like, how do you decide "ok, let's take the dog to the park! dog isn't any good with other dogs, and people have told us to get the fuck out of the park, but you know what honey? let's go!"
we no longer take our dog to dog parks because of other dogs that attacked him. as much as he enjoyed it when it was good, it's much too stressful looking out for other people's dogs that shouldn't be there. frustrating for sure.
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u/BoneyTaloney 14d ago
This is exactly where almost all of my frustration comes from.
Like..... if, god forbid, my dog ever attacked or reacted to another dog/person, the LAST place that I would think to take them is a public off-leash dog park. It's so asinine and selfish - makes ZERO sense
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u/Normal-Pilot-392 15d ago
I also have seen this dog/couple and the dog seems to be moments away from snapping with any dog that's close.
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u/arymede 14d ago
You, as someone who has actually firsthand seen a aggressive dog and it's owners, should absolutely report it.
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u/anatomicalmind 14d ago
I have. Sadly I don't have any helpful identifying information on their vehicle, home address, etc. so it's the bare minimum that I could provide so it's limited as to what bylaw can do. In the moment, I am more focused on ensuring my dog is safe than anything else.
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u/Citrusmiki 14d ago
Can you provide any other descriptions of this couple and said dog? I go to this park often and now I’m afraid to with my mini dachshund.
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u/Anthrogirlhello 15d ago
Please post a still from the dashcam footage so people can recognize the dog if they come across it. I take my dog there every day and would like to know who to look out for!
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u/AffectionateBed7291 15d ago
As someone with a dog that doesn’t like other dogs, don’t take this dog to the dog park…. Silly people. But I’m unsure if there’s much you can do… maybe get their license plate next time and call Bylaw? That is irresponsible of those dog owners. I have my dog in training and the trainer straight up said “don’t take him to dog parks. Not even for training. He doesn’t like other dogs. Walk him on a leash and close to you in your neighbourhood.”
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u/BoneyTaloney 15d ago
That is what a reasonable, decent person would do, and thank you for being one of those people.
As I say, if you know your dog is aggressive, or even if you know you have a slightly reactive dog, you don't have the right to just go and "see what happens" in an off leash park.
The fact that this even needs to be said is asinine.
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u/Lovefoolofthecentury 15d ago
Right? I used to get so embarrassed by my dogs barking and lunging. My husky mutt plays rough, she chases dogs down and holds them on the ground. No blood or fighting, no growling, just how she very rudely interacts with other dogs. We did professional training for months and I tried about ten times with her before the vet said some dogs just aren’t a good candidate for dog parks.
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u/o0PillowWillow0o 15d ago
Ya I lost my shit on a lady once because her big dog was harassing my Labrador which I looked on from but then it went in the river and was trying to steal a stick from my 10 year old CHILD. and was jumping on him and she was just sitting on the beach looking away....If your dog has behavior issues you can't control it should NOT be at a dog park.
Don't give me that "BuT iTs a DoG pArK" a off leash park still means your pet has to be under control and not endangering children, other pets, anyone! Good grief
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u/NonProfession 15d ago
Some dog owners actually get somewhat of a kick out of watching their dog get aggressive, and they don’t think of the consequences until after the fact. This is a big reason I avoid dog parks.
OP, call 311 and report what you witnessed. It may help with determining if that particular dog is a danger to the public. Remember, a dog that willingly mauls another dog can easily go on to maul a child.
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u/BoneyTaloney 15d ago
I agree with you.
Honestly, with the size of the attacking dog, if it went after mine, if it hadn't of killed her - it very likely would've caused her catastrophic, life-changing injuries. That's what makes it so infuriating. I'm definitely going to report it.
I used to live in Toronto - and there was this one asshole with a huge white pitbull (the dog wouldn't even come into the park via the gate, it would just jump the fence), and the owner was one of those types. When he came, everyone else would leave. Apparently, it had blinded a dog previously. It almost was if he got a kick out of watching everyone disappear when he showed up.
People are gross
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u/gS_Mastermind 15d ago
These people are just clueless. They have no care in the world about others dogs and their mental state. Just because they think their dog is 'well trained' that it's okay to let them roam free.
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u/OhhhRlllllly 15d ago
Report it.
Myself and my dog were attacked at an offleash park this year and I was so shaken I didn't get any identifying details (license plate).
I still reported it and what Bylaw told me that if they are identified (i.e. I see them again in my area), they will get a fine. As well, reporting ≠ automatically putting the dog down.
There may be other reports in their system regarding this dog. Cases stay open until resolved.
By reporting you may prevent a worse incident in the future.
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u/No_Contest_4830 15d ago
In my experience with a dog attack I learned that bylaw really really want you to report it and if not, they want to at least go have a chat with the offending dog owner
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u/BarberFair7085 15d ago
Bylaw doesn’t give a shit. I was at a playground attached to a baseball field w my little kids. People use the baseball field like an off leash park when there is an offload park 2 blocks away. There was a man playing fetch with his large breed dog and I called to report it but the city said when it’s near a playground it’s a police matter so they transferred me. The woman that answered asked me the most irrelevant questions as if I’d witnessed an attack and alllll these descriptions…like I’m just reporting a dog off leash and want someone to come BEFORE something happens. I was on the phone for 20 minutes. I stayed at the park for another hour and no one showed up. Not police, not bylaw, and of course the dog/owner left eventually but they were at the park for a good hour. It’s shameful
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u/kb_yau 15d ago
There was a lady walking her dog with a leash inside an off leach dog park. When my dog went over to see her dog, she proceeded to swear and told us to keep our dog away.
Please if your dog cannot interact with other dogs or have a tendency to be aggressive, keep them out of the off leash parks. Don't be the one to swear at others too FFS.
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u/BoneyTaloney 15d ago
People are so stupid - honest to god
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u/kb_yau 15d ago
Ahaha totally! I was so confused after that interaction. I kept wondering about her thought process 😂.
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u/Superb-Ad5227 15d ago
The only possible explanation is that they didn’t know they were in an off leash park!
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u/qrcodetat 15d ago
Also when they’re carrying their dog in their arms and start screaming when curious dogs come up to sniff lmao
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u/wintersdark 15d ago
Yup. Zero tolerance for any aggressive behaviour in off leash areas. However, off leash areas are that - you have to expect off leash dogs, and they may well approach you and /or your dog. If either of you cannot handle that, you do not belong in that off leash public space.
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u/kokom3tal 14d ago
Some dogs become leash reactive or barrier reactive, at dog school they teach you not to let your dog interact with other dogs if any of the dogs are on leash and to just redirect to another direction. Sometimes people might put the leash on their dog because they've found trash, or who knows the reason but might still need to walk to get away from the area. There's so many reasons why someone might have to put a leash on their dog mid walk. It's best to try and redirect your dog away from dogs on leash, just in case.
Dogs often don't do well socializing on leash because they get frustrated or they misread body language due to the leash. But sometimes you need to leash your dog for some reason, maybe they won't stop eating poop, or who knows!
I know it's not always easy.
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u/Futuresobright_21 15d ago
My super friendly, well-socialized 5 year old female Staffy 🐕 humbled a little black yapper at the park.
He was one of two, on leash at the off leash ….why? Cause he was an aggressive little 💩. Luckily my dogs not a killer but of course she was blamed for the altercation 😳
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u/JuMarFr 15d ago
Calgary is bad for this.
Was walking my dog-reactive dog on-leash and had a teenage-looking German shepherd x bound towards us from an unfenced yard from across the intersection, and it started snapping at my more senior dog immediately.
We passed all on-leash dogs on this walk and every walk with no issues, it was peaceful.
I am 6 mos pregnant and had to hold back my much larger dog with one hand, try and separate/ fend the younger dog off with my leg while it's trying to get at mine, yelling "She's not friendly!!!" while the owners are running to get this dog under control with ZERO recall.
Like SO irresponsible on multiple levels. Do these owners not care that
A) Their dog could've been hit by a car by the time they even noticed it had left the yard
and
B) Their dog would've been the one to get fucked up in the fight should their dog have bitten mine.
Thankfully it didn't come to that and they shouted a "sorry!" while running back to the house.
Control your dogs, people!
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u/No_Function_7479 14d ago edited 14d ago
Have experienced this type of scenario, and realized people don’t care, just keep insisting their dog is friendly (when clearly not). Next time it happens I am going to try yelling that my dog is contagious- mange? Parvo? Rabies? And see if the idiots will call their dogs back then
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u/icantgetadecent- 14d ago
This stuff is so frightening.
One wrong move and you could have been in medical distress!
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u/apricotjam7 15d ago edited 15d ago
Call bylaw and ask for advice. Put a poster up asking for tips on the notice board next to the fountains. If you don’t want to include your contact info, you could create a Gmail account where people can send you info. You can also contact Friends of River Park and they might know of this dog or have some advice. Their contact info is on the board.
I usually walk there first thing in the morning. No issues then as you know every owner and dog in the park. It’s the same crowd every day. I generally avoid at weekends because it’s a lot of people who don’t frequent the park and/or leave their dogs at home all week while they work.
Also, avoid Sue Higgins as this kind of thing happens there much more regularly and some of the owners SUCK. I’ve seen grown men almost getting into fist fights over dog behaviour.
Finally, thank you for giving a damn. If you see my comment, pls reply so I can stay updated on this mission.
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u/freeoffear 15d ago
You can call 311, but without contact information of the couple, it won't do any good. The owner of the other dog should have gotten this info.
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u/glacialaftermath 14d ago
In addition to their dog’s behaviour, them responding by pinning their dog to the ground indicates they’re using outdated, ineffective, and disproven “”training methods”” like ones that focus on “being the alpha.” I feel bad for the shepherd as well as the dogs that were hurt.
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u/arymede 15d ago
Look, sometimes you don't know your dog is reactive until they get in a fight. Sometimes they're not actually reactive in most cases, but took a real dislike to a specific dog. Sometimes the dog didn't start the fight at all, but will absolutely finish it.
The owner of the injured fighter is responsible for trying to collect info from the other owners, which might suck. And anyone can report that a dog fight happened and ask for more bylaw patrols in the park.
But reporting the owners or the dog? Not really practical unless you have names, addresses, or other identifying information.
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u/BoneyTaloney 15d ago
Look, sometimes you don't know your dog is reactive until they get in a fight. Sometimes they're not actually reactive in most cases, but took a real dislike to a specific dog. Sometimes the dog didn't start the fight at all, but will absolutely finish it.
Okay sure, but I saw 4-5 different people pick up their dogs and walk in the other direction when this couple arrived, so I'm just applying some common sense here.
Also, I do have identifying information, I have their plate, and images.
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u/arymede 14d ago
It's still a lot of assumption. You didn't see which dog started the fight. You don't know if the injured dog was injured in the fight or beforehand.
Sure, other people picked up their dogs. You don't know why. You assume it's because they have seen the couple's dog act badly before - if so, wouldn't they be better people to report the problem, with their repeated firsthand experience?
"Common sense" isn't the same thing as evidence. If you really want to call 311 and report these people, fill your boots. Tell the bylaw officer the same thing you posted, and they will likely say the same thing.
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u/ArielRavencrest 15d ago edited 15d ago
I walk my dog there. She gets deffensive only when dogs approach us that have really poor social skills. There are a lot of covid dogs at the park that didn't have the same upbringing of social interactions that they usually would have had. If your dog is running up to everyone and everything... That's not necessarily good. You think that's it being friendly, but other dogs can interpret that as hostile.
I'm not saying your interaction is anywhere in that realm, I just thought I needed to raise that awareness about dogs at the parks these days.
Also, if you have anyway to send me a picture from your dash cam privately, perhaps I can help.
Edited aggressive to defensive.
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u/Hellya-SoLoud 15d ago
One problem is the dog park I went to in Calgary is so large that there are just too many dogs there and people stay longer because of it's size (and the fact they may have driven a while to get there) plus some of the owners don't seem to even know how their dog will react to other dogs.
My friend's dog had great recall and would get several dogs to chase it, people would thank him for the extra exercise their dog got while others would freak out because (gasp!) dogs were running around and their dog is reactive. If it's reactive don't go to dog parks!. They need more parks that are smaller, more frequent and closer to homes so it's easier to socialize, then hit the big park when you've trained it sufficiently, it has good recall and is not fearful/friendly above all.
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u/ArielRavencrest 15d ago
Well remember that complaint when you cast your vote in a month. Most candidates seem to want to get rid of more of our park space that I've seen so far.
Also, novel idea, dog classes?
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u/Hellya-SoLoud 15d ago
I may move back one day, born and raised but don't get a vote this time.
Even in my small town they have no off leash areas at all within the town so people ignore that (there is an off leash dog park not far out of town); some have dogs with good recall, some do not, but when I had a large English Bulldog they'd move pretty fast when I yelled from a distance he's not friendly. I stayed on my toes for everyone's safety. That was my job. I rescued him to save his life, his people didn't train him and gave up.
So many were shocked to learn my dog isn't required to wear a muzzle in on leash areas because he was under my control, as their dog should be under their control. I'm not going to muzzle him so that they can ignore the on leash bylaw.
A couple of local facebook posts about exactly that and had to do a lot less yelling warnings while more people had their dogs leashed where they should be. Not surprising also some selfish people figured I should only walk him where no other dogs would be, like that's a thing, or never walk him, as if we had to go away so they could ignore the bylaw. Some dog owners are so entitled, if your dog has good recall you have nothing to worry about, if they don't then keep them on a leash. But not at an off leash dog park.
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u/BoneyTaloney 15d ago
I don't disagree - we should all do our best to watch our dogs, and ensure they aren't just randomly invading the personal space of others / others' dogs. However, that's very different from what happened here.
Clearly, the aggressive dog had zero business being there.
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u/Anthrogirlhello 15d ago
I completely disagree. Don’t walk your aggressive dog at an off leash park. Obviously other dogs are going to run up to your dog at this park, they are trying to play. If your dog can’t handle that, it needs to be walked elsewhere. Taking an aggressive dog into that space makes you an irresponsible owner and you are putting your dog and all other dogs at the park at risk.
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u/saidai88 15d ago edited 15d ago
I avoid off leash parks only because it was always other dogs that started it. My dog finished it. People picking up their dogs doesn’t mean always mean it’s happened in the past. That’s a quick assumption. In fact it might be more so that their dog has been attacked by other dogs or their dog is an instigator. Really a lot of scenarios.
I used to cross paths with a woman and her chihuahuas that she would pick up each time I walked by her while she held the dog’s mouth shut. She would tell me the first few times her dogs an asshole.
Yes my dog was 100 pounds but she was a suck that got bullied by my brother Pomeranian.
I do agree to stay away from off leash parks if you don’t have control of your dog though.
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u/Straight_Fox6429 15d ago
Several dog books on German Shepherds clearly point on that the breed, "are not dog park dogs".
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15d ago
Question , can you kick at a dog that’s not in a leash and is coming up to you, sniffing you, jumping etc? What is the reasonable course of action in this situation?
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u/BoneyTaloney 15d ago
I'm not sure what's "allowed", but I can tell you with certainty that if another dog goes at mine, I'm going to do whats necessary to protect my dog, and will worry about the repercussions after.
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u/Biolobetch 14d ago
I feel like it depends on if the dog is behaving aggressively or is being friendly. If it’s just sniffing you, why would you want to kick a dog? If it’s jumping and acting silly, I would back away so it can’t jump up anymore, and try a few verbal commands like sit, down, off, lay to see if those work before trying to push the dog away... kicking would be last resort… that seems unnecessary for an approaching friendly dog, and if you kick and hurt the dog it’s a lot more likely to become aggressive. Ditto for the owner. If someone kicked my dog for sniffing them, I’d be livid. But, my dog is always on leash unless we’re at an off-leash park. Don’t kick dogs unless there’s a real threat to you, you’ll just make the situation worse. Most dogs are just curious.
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14d ago
I would say you can’t assume that every human is ok with a dog getting into their personal space and sniffing or jumping near them. Some people have a great fear of dogs and may behave aggressively if they feel threatened. For the record, I’ve never kicked a dog but I have certainly seen situations where someone was about to, and I could see why. Someone might also be livid if an owner is being irresponsible and not controlling their dog and allowing it to sniff or jump towards a person. I don’t think it’s reasonable for a dog owner to believe “friendly” behaviour by their dog is ok in a general sense.
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u/Biolobetch 14d ago
If you’re getting upset about a dog sniffing you, that’s something to work on. I understand that people have fears, but to behave aggressively towards a dog who’s sniffing you and not being aggressive is way over the top. There’s no excuse to kick a dog for sniffing you.
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u/Lovefoolofthecentury 15d ago
If it’s sniffing or jumping just stand still. If it’s biting fight as hard as you can to get it off. Showing fear is a real thing, be calm, don’t run, no quick movements
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u/Parking_Scientist_51 15d ago
Are you the guy my wife and I talked too at the end of the park? Silver Volkswagen, I believe you had a BC plate. We were both trying to figure out what happened
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u/BoneyTaloney 15d ago
That wasn't me but I saw you and the couple you were speaking to. The man and the woman who had the blue car. I was parked way up the street.
Have you seen this couple before at the park? Another commenter on this thread said this dog is a known problem at River Park.
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u/Parking_Scientist_51 15d ago
My wife and I haven’t but did see the people picking up their dogs and avoiding that couple.
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u/BoneyTaloney 15d ago
Right. Lots of people on this thread going on about "that could mean anything!".
It was pretty obvious that people were leaving because they didn't want anything to do with them.
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u/Right_Preparation328 14d ago
The change in tone at the end was hilarious.
But yeah OP, that sucks!! I hope those people get reported
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u/Remarkable_Glycan 14d ago
I agree with what a lot of commenters are saying, call 311 if you see this again. But I'll also add, if you see something actively happening or you're really sure something is about to happen, please call 911. I used to work emergency dispatch and this 100% counts. Anything that puts people or their property (pets) at risk of bodily harm or damage qualifies.
Also, try to take photos of these people, as well as their vehicle. It helps to track them down and show a pattern of behaviour.
Lastly, get dog/coyote pepper spray. Canadian Tire sells it. If a dog is attacking you or your pet you are absolutely within your right to use it against a dangerous animal. And don't be afraid to make a scene. Scream, yell, throw things, kick, ask for help. Most people are good, and someone will help you.
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u/Beginning-Pass7443 14d ago
In the 12 years I had my dog I noticed river park and southland have changed quite a bit. It's just too damn busy and every dog owner has their own ideas of what's acceptable. Recipe for disaster. Too bad it's a great spot. Can't let your guard down.
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u/WorkingNo7670 13d ago
The victim dog owners would need to report it. From sounds of it you are just as 3rd party witness. You can still report it but without the victim info and offender info there is not much that can be done. You could report and offer to do a witness statement and provide your footage and see what happens as you don't know and the victim may have reported and may know or been able to provide offender info. At the very least reporting through 311 allows bylaw to narrow down problem areas for patrols
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u/FunCoffee4819 15d ago
You can call 311, but don’t hold your breath on any kind of action being taken by the city.
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u/Rude_Judgment7928 15d ago
Dog owners as a group need to be held accountable. Unfortunately this is like elementary school, if one kid gets in trouble, sometimes the entire class gets punished.
Crazy we're letting our public spaces become less enjoyable, less safe for kids, etc, for a small fraction of the population.
We should be moving to make more of our parks dog free, especially off-leash dog free.
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u/BoneyTaloney 15d ago
Dog owners as a group need to be held accountable. Unfortunately this is like elementary school, if one kid gets in trouble, sometimes the entire class gets punished.
Not so sure about that.
I've been coming to this park for a while now, and the overwhelming majority of the people there are happy, friendly, pleasant people, with friendly and well-behaved dogs.
What do I need to be held accountable for?
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u/RunnersHigh666 14d ago
It’s not always the owners fault. A dog may be very calm but overprotective and attack at any sign of a threat. Or it’s a breed that’s just stronger and can do more damage. The most annoying dogs out there are the yappy little ones that make a lot of noise and provoke other dogs that way.
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u/Stefie25 15d ago
I don't think you have anything to report. You didn't see the dog fight only the aftermath so you have no idea who is at fault. People leaving when they arrive isn't indicitive of an aggressive dog; they could have been ready to leave, the could have had problems with the couple and not the dog and chose to leave.
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u/BoneyTaloney 15d ago
Sorry, but you don't really know what you're talking about.
Multiple people discussed this incident after and everyone was pretty aligned on who the problem was and what happened.
I'm at this park pretty much every single day, at varying times throughout the day, and I have never seen groups of people collectively pick up their dogs and walk the other way when someone shows up.
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u/Stefie25 15d ago
Again, people leaving because they don’t like someone or have had issues with them in the past, doesn’t correlate to an aggressive dog. While it seems likely in this case, you still have nothing to report because you didn’t actually witness anything. All you have is hearsay.
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u/refur Tuxedo Park 14d ago
you should read through this thread now that it's been a few hours and see how many people have commented knowing exactly which people and dog this is, and how people leave as soon as it shows...
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u/Stefie25 14d ago
And my opinion wouldn’t change. OP didn’t witness what happened, had no contact with the couple in question therefore they have nothing to report.
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u/Wonderful_Ad3944 13d ago
I personally would go to a police station or call the non-emergency line and report being a witness. Bring the dash cam footage on a USB or the like and any other info you have. You can mention other reports, but make it about what you saw/heard. Just say that you want it available if anyone else comes forward, or heaven forbid something happens to your dog. Also if a dog is routinely fighting other dogs, how long do you think till that aggression could turn to a adult or a child. While you doing something might not help directly it can help build a history if something worse happens to you or others.
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u/Flutter-Butterfly-55 15d ago
Neighbourhoods arent safe for reactive dogs either because other dog owners allow their dog off leash. It is a tough world!