Editor’s Note: Global News has changed the ages of the victim and child in this story to reflect the correct information received from Calgary EMS.
Calgary EMS have confirmed a 50-year-old woman died after being attacked by her dog in her Langdon home Saturday night.
Two EMS crews from the Calgary area responded to the call Saturday night.
Stewart Brideaux, a spokesperson for Calgary EMS said a two-and-a-half-year-old girl was taken to Alberta Children’s Hospital in stable condition but with traumatic injuries. Her parents and some extended family were on scene when the attack happened, RCMP said.
In a release from RCMP late Saturday, police said the dog initially attacked the girl before turning on the woman.
“A relative heard the commotion and the dog switched the attack,” said RCMP Staff Sgt. John Spaans. He said the toddler suffered wounds to her extremities.
Emergency crews were called to the home but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the dog is a boxer-pitbull cross and witnesses told police it had not shown any previous signs of aggression.
“This was out of character for the dog,” Spaans said. “There was indication early in its life that it was wound up, a little hyper, but there was no history of violence.”
“Totally unforeseen and totally out of character for the dog.”
That dog, as well as a second dog in the home, have been quarantined in Calgary. Spaans said it’s done to monitor the dogs, usually for things like rabies.
Spaans said that under the Dangerous Dogs Act, a dog can be quarantined for a period of 10 days. The owner is given the option to voluntarily euthanize the animal. Alternately, authorities can have the dog put down on order of the courts or release the dog back to the owners with strict parameters.
Langdon is approximately 35 kilometres east of Calgary.