Dog attacked in Stanley Park off-leash area, couple says

A West End couple wants the owner of the dog that attacked their dog to do the right thing and help them cover $1,100 in veterinary hospital costs.

According to Bugra Firat, he took his five-year-old dog Goldie to the fenced off-leash area near the tennis courts in Stanley Park on Tuesday evening.

He said that within minutes of arriving, Goldie was aggressively attacked by another dog.

“Right in the throat. I panicked. I tried to pull them apart. I wasn’t sure what I was doing, but at some point he let go,” Firat said.

He said Goldie has a gentle nature and generally gets along well with other dogs, but he fears that could change after this traumatic incident.

Veterinarians at the animal hospital stitched up eight puncture wounds in Goldie’s neck.

They also placed two drains to prevent fluid from building up in her throat.

Firat has exchanged phone numbers with the owner of the other dog, but says the man has stopped responding to his messages.

“You may not always have the means to pay the vet bills or whatever, but if you just take accountability, responsibility and act that way, then I think that’s what I expect,” Firat said in an interview with CTV News.

The $1,100 bill only covers Goldie’s first visit to the animal hospital. She has two more appointments scheduled as she continues her recovery.

CTV News reached out to the owner of the other dog by phone.

He described the incident as a dog fight and not a dog attack.

“He’s been texting me saying the dog bill was over $1,000 and I had to pay for it,” said the man, who identified himself as Dio. “And I don’t think it’s fair because not only was it not my dog’s fault.”

Dio claims his dog also went to the vet to be treated for injuries and says the bill for that was around $300.

He told CTV News he would share photos of his dog’s injuries, but he hasn’t done so yet.

The City of Vancouver confirms that animal control is aware of the incident and an investigation has been launched.

The city’s animal control ordinance imposes fines for dogs that exhibit aggressive behavior, such as biting or attacking people or pets.

Financial penalties start at $250.

Researchers also have the authority to classify a dog as an aggressive animal. For this, the owner must adhere to a number of strict conditions.

Examples of this include obtaining an aggressive dog license ($200 per year), not taking the dog to designated off-leash areas, and wearing a muzzle in public.

While the investigation continues, Firat and his partner focus on Goldie’s physical and emotional recovery.

“I imagine it’s going to be a little bit of a slow introduction to other dogs, the park, walks,” he said. “And it’s also about reading her body language.”