Robert Carpenter appeared in Provincial Court on Thursday, Oct 27th to hear sentencing on his case.

On June 10th, 2016 in the town of Ponteix, three teens were out enjoying the evening. *Due to the age of the victims their names have been changed to keep their privacy. As they walked past Mr. Carpenter's house, they were approached by five dogs that came out the yard through an open gate. The teens, two girls aged 13 and a boy aged 14, were surrounded by the pack of five dogs, which the teens describe as being a Labrador-type dog. All five had an aggressive posture. One of the Girls Jane*, has a large dog at home and has been around dogs for most of her life. She described, in court documents, that these dogs were “really aggressive” and their tales were not wagging. The teens tried to protect themselves by staying close together but one of the dogs bit Jane on the hand. She saw the other girl, Mary* get bit , but the bite did not break the skin.

The boy, John*, had a bike and told the girls he would ride away and get the dogs to chase him. The dogs chased him to a friend’s house. When he got to the house he dropped the bike and tried to run into the house. The pack attacked him and one dog bit him on the thigh.

The girls by this time were trying to get to Mary’s house for safety when the pack returned. The girls froze in fear as the pack surrounded them. Jane stepped back and the pack pounced on her. Jane tried to run away but, she was knocked to the ground and pinned down as the dogs bit her on her legs and arms. Some of the bites did not break the skin while others broke through. Jane pushed the dogs off her to get up and make her way to a house with steps. She gained the high ground on the steps and continued to kick and scream at the dogs. The dogs would retreat and come back again and again in different combinations; sometimes three at a time and sometimes all five. Mary ran, to get help, as this was going on with Jane. Mary could hear Jane’s screams as the attack continued. As fast as the attack started it ended and the dogs returned to Mr. Carpenter’s yard. Soon afterward Mary’s mother arrived to help.

Jane received multiple attack bites to her legs, with puncture marks and bruising and scratches to her upper and lower thigh, calf and knee areas. John had one bite went through the skin into the thigh. Both were taken to hospital with serious injuries. Jane testified in court how painful it was recuperating and she was given many needles and painkillers for dealing with the attack. John had to have some of the bite marks left open as there was a fear of infection. Both teens had tetanus shots. Each one will have to deal with permanent scars from the attack.

Mr. Carpenter was found guilty on two counts of owning animals that attacked a person under 376(4) of the Municipal Act. It States; (4) Any person who owns an animal that, without provocation, attacks, assaults, bites, injures or kills a person or domestic animal is guilty of an offense. (5) A person who is guilty of an offense pursuant to this section is liable on summary conviction to:

  1. a fine not more than $10,000;
  2. imprisonment for not more than six months;
  3. an order pursuant to subsection 375(5);or
  4. a penalty consisting of any combinations of a) to c)

Section 375(5) of the Municipalities Act gives the judge options as to what can be done in order to protect the public from further attacks from dangerous animals. Under section X, b) Order that the animal be destroyed or otherwise disposed of at the owner’s expense and shall, in that case, give directions with respect to the destruction of other deposition.

Judge Karl Bazin, in his verdict, told Mr. Carpenter that he felt Carpenter did not fully understand the severity of the attack. Bazin said, “You stated that if they (the dogs) were serious about harming, they could do a lot of harm. Looking at the harm done to Jane, the five dogs, unprovoked, attacked without warning three young teens. The dogs were not deterred by the number of teens they faced. The five dogs attacked as a pack, and returned to the teens and attacked them.”

Bazin also felt Carpenter was cavalier in his attitude towards the dogs even though Carpenter described one dog as a biter, which had bitten someone in Calgary. Although Carpenter had a six-foot high fence, he knew the hinge on his gate was missing and the dogs could escape if not attended.

Judge Bazin submitted the following sentence:

  1. The dogs will be taken into custody by the RCMP immediately. They will be held until Nov 11 which is eight clear days from the judgment. The RCMP are to have the 5 dogs euthanized by a licensed veterinarian. The dogs may be euthanized earlier with the consent from Mr. Carpenter.
  2. Mr. Carpenter is to pay all expenses of impounding the dogs and their euthanization.
  3. Mr. Carpenter is to pay a fine of $500 and all surcharges and have six months to pay it. Consideration was given that Mr. Carpenter will incur costs associated with the impounding and destruction of the dogs.
  4. Mr. Carpenter can appeal the decision anytime before Nov 11, 2016, pursuant to section 377(2) of the Municipalities Act. If there is an appeal, the order to euthanize the dogs is stayed until the case is heard. The dogs will remain impounded until the disposition of any appeal.