A woman who saw two dogs viciously attacking a senior on a sidewalk outside her business in Sidney on Friday said she is “horrified” such a thing could happen.
“It was the most traumatic thing I’ve ever seen,” said Katherine Margetts, who owns The Shop at 9719 First Street.
She said just before noon, a senior who lives in the condo above her store was pounced upon by two dogs who apparently escaped from a nearby home and yard. She said the woman, whom she knows as Sherry, was pinned down and the dogs were biting into her arms as she defended herself.
Margetts, who was with a friend in front of her store at the time, said she first heard “a commotion” behind her, then turned around, saw the attack and screamed. That’s when one of the dogs turned its sights on her as she rushed into the open door of her store, thinking that she and her friend would also be attacked.
“But someone called the dog off.”
Margetts, who called 911, said two other witnesses were able to help the injured woman and bring her into Seaside Cabinetry and Design next door. Police and fire rescue responded within a few minutes and then paramedics arrived.
B.C. Emergency Health Services said an ambulance with primary care paramedics responded to the scene and provided emergency medical treatment to the victim, who was transported to hospital in stable condition.
The Capital Regional District animal control unit confirmed late Friday it is investigating the incident.
Margetts said the woman was wearing a heavier coat, which likely helped her, but when it was removed she could see blood and it “was obvious she was going to need a lot of stitches, probably rabies shots, tetanus shots. It was extreme … and it’s just a shame. She was very traumatized. She was just shaking.”
Margetts said the owner of the dogs was not outside the home when the dogs escaped, but he rushed out soon after the attack and got hold of the dogs.
“What really disappointed me was all he kept saying was, ‘oh, they’ve never done this before’ over and over. Not once did he ask how the woman was.”
Margetts said hours after the attack that she was still shaking and in a state of disbelief.
“She kept saying: I need some help. It was so shocking. She just put her arms up to defend herself and they were just on top of her.”
Margetts estimated the senior to be about 80 years old, “but she wasn’t frail. She was sturdy, but she still couldn’t defend herself against those dogs. I wouldn’t have been able to, either.”
Town of Sidney bylaws, administered through the CRD animal control unit, can deem a dog “dangerous” if it has seriously injured a person, or has aggressively pursued or harassed a person without provocation.
