Some residents who live in a neighbourhood in Hamilton’s east end say they fear for their safety because of two aggressive dogs that are often off-leash.
74-year-old Beverley Phillips says she was not only violently attacked by one of the dogs, but her own dog was killed in the attack.
Last Thursday, Phillips says she was walking with her 5-pound pomeranian when she came across two American bulldogs off-leash. A neighbour’s camera captured the horrific sound of the attack.
“I was knocked down on the ground and I was cocooning around my dog, trying to protect her and she was screaming. The dog had a bite right on her middle, three people helped get the dog’s jaws open so I could get my dog out.”
Philips took her dog Lexi to the vet even before she went to the hospital but was told it was too late.
“I had her for three years and everyone said she was a wonderful dog, very intelligent, and now I don’t have her.”
Alisha Farrow spoke about her similar experience with the same dogs, she says her dog was attacked earlier this year and fortunately lived.
“The two American bulldogs came up behind me grabbing my dog Elvis. They put him in the air at which point I had to get down on the ground and wrestle these two bulldogs. It was a very horrific experience,” said Farrow.
Philips says she’s now working with a lawyer to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else.
Her lawyer stated the dog’s owners could be facing up to a $10, 000 fine for each offense and up to 6 months in jail.
Beverly’s daughter mentioned that when she contacted animal services in the city of Hamilton, she was instructed to call the police.
However, the police then advised her to contact animal services. She is still waiting for a response.
READ MORE: Angry mob confronts Hamilton dog boarder after two dogs die in her care