Two dog owners in North Bay have been charged after their dogs attacked a man on Algonquin Avenue on April 29. The incident occurred around 4:45 p.m. when a man and woman were sitting on the steps of an office building in the 1200 block with their two small dogs. Despite being on leashes, the dogs lunged at a man approaching the building, causing him to fall.
The dog owners were able to regain control of the animals, and the victim later received medical treatment for his injuries. The dog owners and the victim were not familiar with each other. The owners have been charged under the Dog Owners Liability Act for failing to prevent their dogs from attacking.
According to Insp. Jeff Warner, dog owners are legally obligated to take precautions to prevent their dogs from attacking people or other animals. Violations can result in fines up to $10,000, jail time, or both, depending on the severity of the injuries. The owners may also face civil lawsuits.
This incident follows a previous situation in North Bay, where police were forced to shoot a large aggressive dog attacking people at an apartment complex after pepper spray proved ineffective.
Dog owners are reminded to always maintain control over their pets to prevent serious injury or trauma. The two dog owners are scheduled for a court appearance at a later date.