Investigation to be conducted into whether stabbed pit bull suffered unnecessarily

Video: The bizarre story of a pit bull stabbed to death by a 72-year-old pug owner has turned into a war of words between both dog owners. John Daly reports.

The BC SPCA will be conducting an investigation into whether the pit bull that was stabbed repeatedly and died on Wednesday afternoon suffered unnecessarily.

Spokesperson Lorie Chortyk says as part of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, they will look into what happened with the dogs and talk to all parties involved.

“Our role is to make sure pain was not inflicted on the dog unnecessarily,” says Chortyk.

She says police have closed the file and will not be filing any charges of their own.

Vancouver Police say at about 1 p.m. on Wednesday a 72-year-old Vancouver man was walking his pug at Kitsilano Beach when he was approached by a woman with a pit bull.

After a brief introduction, the pit bull bit down on the neck of the smaller dog.

Chortyk says the pit bull dog was on a leash, while the pug was not.

When the two owners could not separate the two dogs, the owner of the pug stabbed the pit bull with a folding knife.

The pug was rushed to a veterinary hospital for stitches to its neck and animal control attended for the pit bull.

She says this is quite an unusual case and cannot comment further on the specifics as the investigation is still open.

If there are any findings from the necropsy on the pit bull then the BC SPCA will forward their findings to Crown Counsel and charges may be laid.

“Only when a charge is approved can we release more information,” says Chortyk.

A person who appears to be the sister of the owner of the pit bull posted a letter on Facebook Wednesday night about what she says happened.

The letter reads:

The Pit Bull’s name was Pandora. She was six years old.

Ask me if I would let my very small child around this dog while I’m in another room? My answer is yes – absolutely. I did. Many times. And given the chance again, I would let that beautiful, intelligent, beloved dog care for my daughter in a heart beat. Sadly, I will never have that opportunity. My daughter has lost her best friend. That pit bull that was murdered today? She helped me raise, and care for my almost 4-year old daughter.

Was the pit bull off leash? No. She was not.

This was a clearly marked area: dogs should be kept on leash, as posted by the city bylaws. Funny thing is, it was this negligent old man who irresponsibly let his own dog run around freely: he did not have control of his own dog.

Today a man killed a dog. He screamed these words “You hurt my dog. You deserve to die” And then he took out a knife and repeatedly stabbed Pandora until she died. And as Pandora lay their lifeless, this old man fled the scene with his dog in an SUV.

Our family is in shock. In pain. We have lost our loved one. The real victim here was Pandora. My sister, a woman who has worked for and volunteered with the SPCA, who has fostered countless animals while they await adoption, who was been a dog walker, a dog groomer, has held jobs with pet stores and doggy daycares, who has just recently enrolled in a program to become a certified dog trainer, has lost her best friend. My sister’s passion is animals. She is sympathetic to the concern for the pug’s welfare that this old man may have felt in the moment. But his panic does not excuse his actions. The fact that he is “72 years old” or that Pandora is a certain breed does not justify what he did. He is a human being, but his actions were sickly inhumane.

Let me remind you that this is not your story to judge, nor is it your responsibility to decide who is right or wrong. Just as each human being is different, so are the pets we care for. The difference is, we as humans have the capacity to make choices.

Ignorance and misinformation will get the best of you. If you want the real story, I challenge you to stop hiding behind the safety of your screen and come see the family that Pandora has left behind. In fact, let this invitation be forwarded to the man that murdered Pandora. Come have coffee with my daughter and I tomorrow morning. Let me share with you my side of the story: what really happened this afternoon, as opposed to what the media is contorting this into, and then try to tell me who the victim is here.

Sincerely,
Amy