Two dogs remain on the loose after frightening attack in Valleyview

“The dog was on me in about two seconds and grabbed onto my left arm, so I tried to shake it off and pull my arm away,” recalled Dean. “By that time, a second dog had appeared and bit me on the left leg. Then one let go and the other one went behind me and tried to attack from the rear.”

Dean ended up sore with about 10 stitches, but overall admits he was lucky. City bylaw officials have yet to find the dogs, with the encampment packed up. A nearby, post-interview growl from the trees enough to warrant a location change.

“It’s concerning for public health and safety in this area,” said Dean. “It’s an area that is frequented by travelers. They stop by here, it’s close to the river and they rest. It’s grandmas that get out of the car to have a little walk, children in some cases, so to have dogs at large that are aggressive is a big concern.”

Back at KPM, Dean will start providing his staff with dog spray and other deterrents.

Once located, one of the options in front of the city will be putting the dogs down.

“We could go down the route of destruction application with the province through the Community Charter, but in this case, it’s much too early to be able to give information as to what will happen,” explained Will Beatty, Kamloops’ community services manager.

Street disorder and challenges with homeless populations in Kamloops are usually quickly followed by locators like West Victoria, downtown or Tranquille, but East Kamloops is in no way immune.

“Related to the dog incident the two individuals are known to the area, so they frequent the area, it’s not an isolated incident,” said Clare Warner, executive director of the East Kamloops BIA. “We are rallying with businesses, with the city, with CSO and RCMP to really get behind resolving this and creating a safer course of action and work environment for everyone.”

Homeless camps along the South Thompson near his business are not unusual, with all too common break-ins and vandalism occurring throughout the neighbourhood.

“I don’t know what the answer is, but social disorder has a lot of causal factors and it’s definitely concerning how things have changed. I grew up here and I don’t feel like it’s my home anymore.”

by Michael Reeve

Two dogs remain on the loose after frightening attack in Valleyview

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