On the look out

For a Victoria man who is allowing his dogs to run around off leash attacking other dogs and injuring people in the process, we hope that you are found.

Full Story Below

VICTORIA - Authorities in the Victoria area are looking for a man whose band of pit bull-crosses has been terrorizing neighbourhoods across British Columbia, attacking people and killing other dogs.

The last attack was on July 7 in the Victoria suburb of North Saanich, and killed a mini American Eskimo dog. The owner, who is believed to own between four and seven pit bulls, reportedly received 50 stitches after trying to pull his dogs off the smaller dog, said the area's chief bylaw officer, Don Brown. While the dogs were on a leash, they weren't muzzled, he said. By the time bylaw officers went to the dog owner's address in Sidney, B.C., the day after the attack, the man had left with the dogs, which have been declared dangerous.

The pit bulls' first violent strike occurred last August in Surrey, near Vancouver. There have since been seven more attacks. Two of the attacks injured a jogger and a cyclist and the rest targeted other, smaller dogs, killing two in total. "Obviously we're very, very concerned, because this guy is walking out there and, with eight incidents, it's just a matter of time before there's another one," said Brown. "People could be hurt."

The region's bylaw service has put out a warrant to seize the dangerous dogs from the owner and have them put down. Surrey is seeking charges under their animal-control bylaw and if convicted, the man could face fines, an order to put down the dogs or be barred from owning animals in the future, said Brown. The man could also face charges of criminal negligence if he knows his dogs are a danger to others, said B.C. SPCA spokeswoman Corry Anderson-Fennell. The B.C. SPCA is working with Surrey RCMP and regional SPCAs to try to capture the man and his pit bulls, she said. "By moving around, he's certainly making it more difficult and eluding the authorities," said Anderson-Fennell. As the man and his dogs move into new neighbourhoods, they pose a new threat to residents who might not be aware of the pit bulls' vicious reputation, she said.

Bylaw services would not release the name of the man but described him as a 50- to 60-year-old with long, grey, wavy hair and a grey beard. He is tall with a slim build and was most recently seen driving a 1995 green Dodge Caravan, they said. "We want to get these dogs off the road before they seriously injure somebody or another dog," said Brown.

We urge the owner of these dogs to turn himself into Police and take responsibility for his actions.