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Pitt Meadows dike trail gone to the dogs

Off-leash dog attacks, injures three little lambs on nearby farm
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Farm animals were attacked by free running dogs along dike.

A woman whose three lambs were attacked and injured by a dog says Pitt Meadows council should reconsider making the Alouette and Pitt river dikes an off-leash area.

Angel Appleton has first-hand experience with an irresponsible dog owner, and said at least one neighbour has had similar problems,

Appleton lives on the Alouette River/Pitt River Dike, and it borders her property on two sides.

“I watch the dogs come down the dike, swim across the ravine and into my yard, with the owners just continuing to walk and not care, or frantically yell at their dogs and have no control to get them back.”

Her property is fenced and gated, and it keeps in her great Dane, but a dog crawled under the gate and attacked her livestock.

The dog owner said she lost track of her pet for about 10 minutes, and when she found it, it was laying next to an injured lamb. The lamb was unable to get up, or bear any weight on its leg.

In total, three young sheep were bitten.

“My other lamb had a bite on his face and puncture wound on his front leg, and the other lamb a puncture wound on her leg and is unable to walk,” said Appleton.

“This woman did not apologize, almost made it seem like it was no fault of hers, and that my gate should be lower so dogs can’t get under.”

Appleton said it must be the responsibility of dog owners to ensure their animals are not going onto private property and being a nuisance, or a menace to other animals.

Not only has she been upset by the injuring of her animals, Appleton is also financially out of pocket.

The dog owner left her name and number, but so far it has been no use in recovering Appleton’s veterinary bills. She called an on-call emergency vet to check on her injured animals, and incurred a $241 cost. She feels it is the responsibility of the owner of the loose dog. The dog owner has not answered her phone, or returned the call.

“This woman was a very irresponsible owner who took no accountability for her dog’s actions.”

Another neighbour has had her dogs attacked by aggressive dogs running loose.

Appleton has two young boys, and questions whether their safety is at risk in their own yard.

Earlier this month, council approved a 5.8-km section of trails stretching from the Pitt River Bridge to the north end of Harris Road as an off-leash area.

One of the reasons for designated off-leash areas is to keep dogs out of children’s playgrounds and parks. Council also asked staff to educate dog owners, and add more garbage cans and signs to the area.

Appleton said a more enclosed area is needed.

“To avoid situations like what happened to my lambs last night, dikes are not a controlled enough environment for off-leash areas,” said Appleton. “That’s why we have dog parks in closed, gated parks.”



Neil Corbett

About the Author: Neil Corbett

I have been a journalist for more than 30 years, the past decade with the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News.
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