Deadly dog attack devastates Coquitlam family

A Coquitlam family is shattered after the sudden and violent death of their cocker spaniel on Monday night.

Barbara DeBrincat was walking the family dog, Rya, near Dartmoor Drive and Rogate Avenue in Coquitlam when two American bulldogs approached her from behind. One of the dogs, DeBrincat says, lunged and attacked Rya.

DeBrincat tried to intervene but was bitten and while people nearby the incident came and tried to help, the eight-year-old cocker spaniel didn’t survive her injuries.

“They saw Rya and they just went, they went for her and one of them got her, they got her right at her neck first of all and they just kept at it,” she says.

“And I tried kicking them and I was screaming, I was screaming for help and there was nobody around. And I tried, I don’t know why I tried to get them apart… and then I knew I was bit.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "They saw Rya and they just went, they went for her and one of them got her, they got her right at her neck first of all and they just kept at it," she says.</p><p>"And I tried kicking them and I was screaming, I was screaming for help and there was nobody around. And I tried, I don't know why I tried to get them apart… and then I knew I was bit."

DeBrincat says the owner of the two dogs arrived shortly after saying they had somehow gotten through a gate. She also said the bulldogs, a male and female, were not wearing collars and did not have any tags.

“If you can’t prove to us that your dog has been vaccinated and your dog bites someone… why can’t we have the right to say ‘I’m sorry but you’re going to have to do something here, your dog needs to be euthanized, your dog needs to be checked’,” an emotional DeBrincat told Global News.

The two dogs, who DeBrincat says she’s never seen in the neighbourhood before, are now in the care of the Coquitlam Animal Services and an investigation is underway.

It is possible the dog that attacked Rya could be deemed aggressive or vicious.

“In certain situations if the dog is dangerous we will proceed with the community charter with section 49 [which] gives us the power to go to provincial court and go for a destruction order of the dog,” said Andrea McDonald, manager, bylaw and animal control services, City of Coquitlam.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "In certain situations if the dog is dangerous we will proceed with the community charter with section 49 [which] gives us the power to go to provincial court and go for a destruction order of the dog," said Andrea McDonald, manager, bylaw and animal control services, City of Coquitlam.

That process could take months and the Debrincats say they are speaking out because they believe it’s wrong the laws protect the owners of aggressive dogs, instead of the victims.

~ with files from Jill Bennett