Police officers killed three dogs involved in a “horrific incident” on Monday that left a young woman with life-threatening injuries in the northern community of Pelican Narrows, more than 400 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.
It was the second dog attack in the community in three days.
Pelican Narrows RCMP responded to a report of a person injured by dogs on McKay Street Monday morning, according to a news release. RCMP declined to specify the victim’s gender, but a news release from Peter Ballantyne Cree Nations said it was a young woman.
RCMP say officers took the victim, who was suffering from life-threatening injuries, to the health clinic.
Officers then returned to the scene, found the dogs involved and killed them.
“Yesterday, Pelican Narrows RCMP officers responded to a horrific incident which resulted in severe injuries to a community member,” Staff-Sgt. Scott Kirychuk was quoted as saying in the release.
“This event has undoubtedly impacted the community and the police officers who responded.”
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RCMP declined to reveal any updated information about the victim’s condition Tuesday, but say they are continuing to investigate.
They asked pet owners in the community to stop letting their dogs run free. Kirychuk said dogs that do not seem aggressive can change their behaviour when in a pack.
He said RCMP are willing to meet with Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, but cautioned police are not the “sole solution to aggressive animals,” and that police usually only become involved in incidents involving aggressive animals when a crime is believed to have been committed.
On Saturday, police responded to a report of an adult at a medical clinic who had been injured by a dog. RCMP found the dog involved in that incident and the dog’s owners chose to kill it.
RCMP say the incidents are separate and did not involve the same dogs or owners.
In its news release Monday, Peter Ballantyne Cree said Monday’s attack was the fifth incident involving dogs recently.
It said the band had an emergency meeting and is seeking clarification from the RCMP about the previous incidents to see if they involved the same dogs and could have been prevented.
The release acknowledged a problem with stray dogs in Pelican Narrows, but said the mauling represents a separate issue.
“The circumstances surrounding the attack, including the ownership of the dogs involved, remain matters requiring clarification,” the release says.
