A Revelstoke man was attacked by a dog while walking along Aspen Crescent in Arrow Heights during the dinner hour on Aug. 15.
Alan MacLeod told the Times Review he was out for a walk when a black pit bull terrier–cross dog confronted him with a growl. MacLeod said he commanded the dog to with a call of "down," but to no avail.
The dog charged onto the street and bit his right arm.
MacLeod managed to pull his arm away, but the dog then went for his left hand, biting his knuckle.
MacLeod, a runner, said he's had many scrapes with dogs while running, but this was his first bite. He was "frozen with fear" and called out for help.
The owner came out from a garage at the home and called the dog off.
"He was quite apologetic about it," MacLeod said. The owner invited the man in to help wash off the blood – but MacLeod declined because he was only a few blocks from home.
The bite didn't require any stitches, but MacLeod did get a tetanus shot.
MacLeod said his concern was for others' safety. "This is a neighbourhood with children," he said. He was also surprised to learn animal control services had limited ability to act. "What surprised me was that the animal control officer cannot seize the dog," he said.
What does Macleod think should be done? "I have my thoughts about it, but the animal control officer said at least the dog should be muzzled," he said. "I'll be quite wary of it."
Revelstoke RCMP spokesperson Staff-Sgt. Jacquie Olsen confirmed RCMP had responded to a complaint and had referred the matter to animal control.
The Times Review contacted Revelstoke Animal Control Services about the incident. The officer that answered the phone declined to provide his full name.
He confirmed RCMP attended the incident and that animal control had followed up the next morning.
He said the dog involved in the incident had not been impounded and was under the control of the owner.
Staff-Sgt. Olsen said RCMP and the "humane society" are continuing to investigate.