Article appeared in the Oct 6 issue of the Interlake Spectator…
Silence greeted Dawn Mason as she sat down in the Village of Riverton council chambers on Sept.29. Mason was asked to appear before council at a public hearing in response to a complaint by her neighbour, that Mason’s dog attacked and killed their dog. The neighbour, Niki Johannson, wants Mason’s Husky-cross to be declared a dangerous dog.
The hearing was attended by three of Mason’s friends who were there in support of her, and Rene Granger, Animal Control Officer/Manager of the Gimli Humane Society, in addition to the Village of Riverton council members.
Mayor Colin Bjarnason finally declared the hearing open, after council had a chance to read through documentation and bylaws.
“The purpose of this hearing is to determine if a dog is a dangerous animal,” said Bjarnason. “Anyone who gets carried away will be asked to leave,” he added.
On Sept. 17, Mason’s dog, Sasha, a Husky-cross, allegedly attacked a smaller dog belonging to Johanson, whose dog subsequently died of its injuries.
Mason acknowledged that Sasha has gotten off her leash occasionally. However, she denied that the dog is dangerous in any way. She noted that the dog has spent time with small children and other animals.
“Sasha is a timid dog who would never hurt anyone without being provoked,” Mason stated in a prepared letter she read during the hearing. “If there was an occurrence, the other dog would have provoked her to do so. The other dog is well known in town for snapping at people while they walk by the Johanson residence.”
In her support, Anna Lea, a friend to Mason wrote a letter to council corroborating her claims. Three other people wrote letters of support on behalf of Mason and her dog, Sasha, Pamela Fiset, Brandy Hodgins, and Jo-Anne Johannesson. By these accounts Sasha had never displayed any aggressive tendencies, even toward Johannesson’s two small dogs and three cats,
Mason stated that she understands the pain and suffering that the Johanson family are going through, and sympathizes deeply.
“I can hope that no one else will have to experience that kind of loss, myself included,” Mason said.
In a letter to council, read by CAO, Nadine Eyjolfson, Johanson described how her dog, Ginger, was attacked by Sasha and bloodied. The dog later died of its injuries. Johanson’s father witnessed the incident, and kicked Sasha three times until she let go of the smaller dog. The Johanson family and neighbours want to see that Sasha is put down, the letter said.
After hearing from Mason’s friend, Joi Fiset, who spoke in support of Sasha, Bjarnason asked for Granger’s opinion on the matter.
“I don’t have a degree in animal psychology or in animal sciences,” Granger said, “so, I can’t form an opinion…Things like this usually happen again—not always,” Granger said.
Mason pleaded with council to not order that Sasha be put down. She informed council that her mother, who lives in Winnipeg, has agreed to take the dog.
However, Granger noted that Winnipeg officials will need to be notified of any decision to have Sasha relocated there.
“In order to move a dog who has been declared dangerous to another municipality, you have to obtain permission from them,” Granger informed council. “I’m not sure what Winnipeg would say.”
“Council has five days to make a decision, but we will do it as soon as we can,” Bjarnason said.
A decision still had not been made at press time as Granger was still waiting to hear back from the City of Winnipeg as to whether they will allow Sasha to be relocated. In the meantime, Sasha is being housed at the Gimli Humane Society at a cost of $10 per day, which Mason is required to cover in addition to the $500 fine and other fees.
Two other such incidents have occurred in Riverton in the past, but both had been resolved prior to a public hearing taking place. In those cases, the dog had either been put down or released to animal control.
“If she had talked to us before the hearing, the matter may have been resolved before the hearing, but she didn’t,” said Eyjolfson.
