CBC: Woman attacked by dog, owner

[Partner]

Heard this on the radio this morning...unbelievable!!

Edmonton - A 74-year-old woman is in hospital after trying to protect her small dog from a Rottweiler and being attacked by its owner.

Police say the woman was punched and kicked by the owner after she was charged by the large dog and fell to the ground.
People who witnessed the incident called police and an ambulance.

A 32-year-old man has been charged with assault causing bodily harm and was given two animal bylaw tickets.

(from CBC Edmonton)

[Patty1231]

Hmmmmmm, that's certainly a new twist on an old story.

The punk needs put away - abuse on the elderly is disgusting.

[Stubby]

Put the dog in rescue, and Euth. the owner...

[cryjay]

Originally Posted by Stubby

Put the dog in rescue, and Euth. the owner...

Completely agree.


Crystal

[Anne]

I would love to hear the other side of the story...seems to me if this dog charged an elderly lady then the owner would be trying to get the dog away rather than mounting a random attack on an elderly person.

Wonder if the little dog charged the Rott?????????? still no excuse for attacking a person if indeed this happened.

[groupieindenial]

And this is why the own-us should be placed on the "owners" NOT the dog.

[LikeToRun]

Here's today's update on this one:

http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmon...8-6e37387fd506

THE JOURNAL
Latest News

Saying 'shoo' provoked vicious attack, elderly woman says
Man faces new charge of aggravated assault
?
Florence Loyie
The Edmonton Journal


October 14, 2004



EDMONTON - Cecilia Cunningham, 74, remembers trying to shoo a Rottweiler away from her small dog just before a man attacked her on a city street.

"When you see a Rottweiler coming at you, you don't know what it's going to do. He came up and I put up my hand and said: 'Shoo. Go back. Go home. Go home.' "

Cunningham said she never hit the dog Wednesday afternoon on 132nd Avenue near 58th Street, although she was waving her hand at it to scare it away.

"Suddenly, this guy comes barrelling out across the street. I thought he was just coming to get his dog and take him back. I forget what his exact words were, but I guess he thought I was hitting his dog because he came up and said: 'How do you like it?' All of a sudden, smack, he hit me in the head."

But Cunningham has no memory of being kicked, as a witness has said, as she was sprawled on the ground.

Cunningham said she remembered a truck stopping and the driver honking the horn. She also recalled the man grabbing the Rottweiler and leading it back across the street. Then she saw the man coming back while she was sprawled on the ground.

"I said: 'Go away. Go back. I don't want nothing to do with you.' "

Two other men came and helped her before one of them called 911.

Cunningham's right wrist was broken in three places and there are bruises on her face and body. Her doctor has told her if her wrist doesn't heal properly in the next six weeks, she will likely have to undergo surgery to have it reset.

Her dog, Scooter, who was not hurt, curled up beside her as she described what happened.

He has been her constant companion since following her home five years ago.

Cunningham said friends and family will be staying with her because she can't do much for herself as a result of the broken wrist.

"It depresses me now that I can't even take him for a walk," she said as she looked at Scooter.

Vincent Robert Greenwood, 32, has been charged with aggravated assault. He was originally charged with assault causing bodily harm but the charge was upgraded Wednesday.

He has also been served with two bylaw tickets, one for having a dog at large and another for the dog's alleged attack. Greenwood was also given a warning for having an unlicensed dog.

[frontierrots]

It does not sound like the woman was bitten by the dog at all. If so then how can this be a "Rottweiler attack"?? It needs to be called an assault as in human to human and leave the dog breed out of it. More media hype against dogs

Sure the dog was wrong and should not be acting in an aggressive manner to a person walking a dog, but it does not sound like he needs to be called an attacker either

[HerculesMomma]

I didn't see any mention of the dog acting aggressive - did I overlook it?

What the heck is a matter with people?? Even if a 74 year old woman hit my dog with her hand, I certainly wouldn't beat her brains in. How much damage could she do. Besides, who was the unresponsible owner who had the dog off leash?

[TrishB]

I must be missing something as well. The title is:

Saying 'shoo' provoked vicious attack, elderly woman says
Man faces new charge of aggravated assault

If she was waving her hands around telling the dog to 'shoo', it doesn't sound as if the dog attacked at all. Maybe she fell? It doesn't mention that the dog came into contact with her, bit her, jumped on her or anything - just that she was down on the ground when the owner attacked her - not how she got there. This story is missing the "vicious attack" part. There could have been contact by the dog, but this story doesn't cover it.

I'd like more information.

Either way - the man is a moron. There is NO reason to attack a 74 year old woman. His behaviour reflects badly back on us all as Rottweiler owners.

[moondog]

It sounds to me like the vicious attack the lady is referring to is the attack by the OWNER, not the dog. "He smacked me in the head" - I think that is when she was knocked to the ground, and then witnesses said they saw him kick her, but she doesn't remember it.

I think this guy could take some self-control lessons from his dog - if the dog had any intention, other than simple curiosity, having the lady waving her hands surely would have encouraged it. Yet the dog apparently did nothing.

I'm with Stubby, euthanize the owner.

[Anne]

Nowhere in the news report does it say the Rottweiler had any contact or was even charging at this woman and her dog. I read that it was just coming towards them. There is no mention of any suspect behaviour from the dog. You can bet if there was any contact at all from the dog it would be up there in the headlines.

Strange how people read things that are not there. It was headlined as far as I can see as "Attack by Rottweiler Owner" not a Rottweiler attack. The woman clearly states that the owner hit her on the head and she fell to the ground.

I hope this pathetic creature who hit the woman gets his just deserts and I just wish the newspaper report had not cashed in by naming the Rottweiler breed, that really had nothing to do with the story at all. It is about the owner, not the dog but hey! it sells papers, right?

[toobad]

These stories make me sick. I guess the Rottweiler found the old woman's hands waving to be more aggresive than he could handle if he DIDN'T attack her little dog . Poor old woman, wish I was riding by at the time

[Anne]

You can bet if the Rottweiler did anything of an aggressive nature at all then the headlines would not leave us in any doubt.

The Rott should not have been off leash in any case...stupid owner, vicious owner, fancy attacking an elderly lady.

Strange how the news report named the Rottweiler breed but made no mention of the breed of the small dog.....

[Soulworx]

The dog should have been under control.... no dog should be allowed to charge at anybody, he shouldnt own a dog nevermind one the size of a rottweiler.

U can understand the fear that this could put into somebody, especially an old lady, which is why the owner is to blame for this whole incident for not having his dog under control.

Maybe the lady did get the wrong idea from a boisterous dog, but in owning a dog of this breed especially with its unfair reputation, all incidents like these (eg a boisterous dog running over to play with a stranger, who obviously didnt understand the intentions of the dog, and paniced) need to be forseen and put to an end before they start through responsible ownership.

Another reason why formal training is so important, to educate the owner in responsible dog ownership.

U should need a licence gained through testing to own a dog, especially a breed large in size. Maybe that would weed out those looking for a dog for the wrong intentions, or those who obviously wouldnt be able to control it.