Robert Page felt he was fighting for his life after a loose dog attacked him on Saturday as he was walking towards his car near Jeanne-Mance Street and Cyr Avenue in Vanier.
“The dog comes out like a missile,” Page said. “Then he started looking for my throat … jumping through the air.”
Page said the frightening moment lasted five minutes and took him to the hospital for more than 11 hours. He suffered injuries to his forearms and ankle, but is grateful that his injuries were not worse.
“My fists were clenched. If my fist wasn’t closed I’d probably be missing a few fingers,” he told CBC.
Robert Page says he “fought for his life” during a dog attack. (Rachelle Elsiufi / CBC)
In an emailed statement, Ottawa police said they received a call about “a dangerous dog” attacking a man around 10 p.m. When officers arrived, they were able to locate the person in charge of the dog.
“The guard informed us that the dog had now returned home and officers followed the guardian to his residence,” the statement said.
“When he opened the door, the dog ran to his side and escaped into the street where he attacked and bit another man.”
Page says he thinks he could have lost his fingers in the attack if he hadn’t clenched his fist. (Bruce McConville)
“It could have been fatal”
Bruce McConville, the second man attacked, spent 10 hours in hospital and has bite marks on the inside of his right arm, left abdomen and knee injuries.
“The Montfort Hospital doctor says he is a fraction of the distance from a major artery,” he said. “It could have been a fatal wound.”
McConville suffered injuries to his right forearm. (Bruce McConville)
The two men said that not enough is being done to ensure that this type of attack does not happen again.
“It leaves the public, the elderly and children vulnerable to repeated dog attacks,” McConville said.
Robert Page, left, and Bruce McConville were injured Saturday night in two separate attacks by the same dog. (Bruce McConville)
Muzzle order, $ 1,600 in fines
After the second attack, police said officers found the dog and used a stun gun.
“The deployment was successful and the dog ran back to the residence where he was insured,” the police statement said.
Tania McCumber, acting director of regulatory services and statutes (BLRS), said in a written statement that the department issued a muzzle order for the animal.
Five charges have also been issued under the Animal Control and Care Ordinance:
- Two charges for not making sure a dog doesn’t bite or attack a person without provocation ($ 615 for a felony).
- Two charges for not keeping the dog tied up and under control ($ 125 for infraction).
- A count of not registering a dog in the city of Ottawa ($ 125 for infraction).
“BLRS reserves the right to charge according to Dog Owners Liability Act (DOLA) “McCumber said in a statement.
“If it is found that the owner of a vicious dog has violated a provision of the DOLA, or if his dog has bitten, attacked or poses a threat to public safety, the court may issue a mandatory destruction order.”
Police and regulations would not confirm the dog’s breed. Both victims believe it was a restricted race in Ontario.