File # 2020-1474

Oliver RCMP are investigating after a dog mauled an elderly woman and then bit an animal control officer.

On April 7, 2020, Oliver RCMP responded to an address on Sumac Street after receiving a 911 call from the owner of the dog. The landlord, a 76 year old Osoyoos woman, attended to the property to speak to the tenants. Immediately after arriving to the insecure yard, the tenant’s dog, believed to be a 1 year old Shepard cross charged the landlord knocking her to the ground. The tenant heard the commotion and rushed outside and pulled the dog off however not before the dog had caused severe non-life threatening injuries to the woman. An animal control officer attended to assist with the dog but was also bitten and required medical assistance for less serious injuries. The injured woman was airlifted to hospital. The owner had the dog euthanized humanely. Oliver RCMP continue to investigate and applicable charges are being considered.

This incident is a sad reminder of what can happen when a dog is not socially trained and is not secured said Sgt Jason Bayda, South Okanagan RCMP media relations officer, not only do we have a situation where two people were injured, we also have a situation where the dog needed to be put down.