(Image Credit: Kent Simmonds / CFJC Today)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

ANIMAL-INVOLVED DEATH

Landlords push for eviction after Brocklehurst dog attack

Jun 30, 2020 | 5:10 PM

KAMLOOPS — Just before noon on Monday, Kamloops RCMP were called to a home on Singh Street for a report of a dog attack, which turned out to be a fatal incident.

“When officers arrived, they found one male in a residence,” says Cpl. Jodi Shelkie, “And he was alive at the time but soon after they arrived, he succumbed to his injuries.”

The pit bull was secured on the deck of the home while Conservation Officers tranquilized the dog, before euthanizing it. The dog belonged to a tenant of the house, but police say the owner was not home when the attack occurred.

“There were three other people in the residence besides the man that was killed. None of them were in the room with him and the dog when the attack started,” explains Shelkie, “They came in after the attack started.”

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The victim was a Kamloops man in his 30s who was not a tenant. A BC Coroners Service investigation will determine the exact circumstances around the man’s death.

Cpl. Shelkie says for an animal attack incident to result in any sort of criminal charges, the dog would have to have been previously deemed a dangerous animal, allowed in an uncontrolled environment, and it would have to be proven that the owner intended to harm someone with the animal. None of which was apparent in this case.

“In this situation, the dog was in the house, people who had stayed there had stayed with the dog before and there had been no injuries, so at this time we’re not considering criminal charges.”

The landlords, Ken and Leona Fayter, live on the other side of the property, and say police have been called to the home in the past. But, the pair were shocked to find the most recent call was related to a death.

“I want to apologize to all of my neighbours for not vetting these people properly.” Fayter tells CFJC Today, “Had I have taken more care, I would not have rented to them.”

The Fayters say the tenants involved didn’t always cause issues. They say when the renters first moved in, they followed the rules and there weren’t any incidents that brought a police presence to the home.

According to the couple, that has changed in recent months. They claim this fatal incident follows several instances of tenants not paying rent, and violating the no-pets, drugs, or smoking policies in the rental agreement.

“It’s just really not fair to the small landlords, I mean, if we had money, we wouldn’t bother renting, you know?” says Leona, “This is to help us during our old age.”

The Fayters say they have been trying to evict their tenants, but are unable to due to pandemic-related changes made to eviction rules. After this week’s incident, they’re hopeful new consideration will be given to their situation.

“I’m going to push it for all I’m worth, because it’s not safe to have them here,” states Fayter, “It’s not safe for me, it’s not safe for my wife, or for the neighbours.”