The City of Richmond has filed a court application to put down the pit-bull involved in a biting incident last week.
The Richmond News reported last week how, according to police, the 15-month-old dog, named Hugo, “mauled” the face of a 56-year-old woman, who was visiting her friend’s home in south Richmond.
The victim had to undergo emergency facial surgery and was released from hospital soon after. However, the woman in charge of the dog, Vafa Nejad, claimed the entire incident was an accident, as Hugo was simply going after a strap hanging from the woman’s handbag.
On Tuesday, the city said that, in light of the dog owner — officially Nejad’s son — refusing to sign an agreement to have Hugo put to sleep, a petition has been filed at Richmond Provincial Court for an order for destruction of the pit-bull.
“We feel the dog poses an ongoing threat to public safety and that euthanization is necessary to prevent the possibility of future attacks by this animal,” said city spokesman Ted Townsend in an email to the News.
“Provincial legislation prescribes our action at this point. Without voluntary agreement by the owner, our only legal option to proceed is to seek (the order).”
The next step, added Townsend, is to get a court date set.
When heard in court, the judge has a variety of options, such as agreeing with the euthanization, rejecting the application outright, or alternatives, such as more training for the dog and owner, additional conditions on controlling the dog or removing the dog from the existing home/owner.
At any time, said Townsend, the dog owner has the option of voluntarily complying with the city’s proposed action, negating the need for a court hearing.
An emotional Nejad, however, told the News on Tuesday, that the family would be fighting the city in court to save Hugo’s life.
“He’s part of the family,” she said, adding that they’re in talks with the University of B.C. student lawyer service.
Nejad told the Richmond News last week how she and her son were warned two months ago by the City of Richmond after Hugo bit their landlord. She claimed her dog is a “very friendly puppy, who just doesn’t know his strength.”
And she claimed that last week’s victim and her daughter have already called the city to explain that the incident was an accident and are pleading not to have Hugo put down.
Hugo, a 15-month-old pit-bull terrier, remains at RAPS shelter, following the incident.
The family had questioned the right of the police to seize Hugo at the time of the incident.
However, Richmond RCMP made it clear that they were only there in a public safety capacity and it was the city’s bylaw officer who took possession of Hugo.
Townsend said the city is “satisfied that the dog was seized appropriately.”
