RCMP and Richmond bylaws are looking into a woman’s complaint that her pet rabbit was chased and attacked by an off-leash dog at Richmond’s Cook Park.
Betty Tian said her heart almost stopped when her 2.6 pound bunny, named Benny, “screeched” for his life and struggled out of his leash to get away from what looked like a blonde Labrador dog on July 15.
Tian told the Richmond News that she was at the park with her friend, friend’s nine-year-old daughter and Benny, who was leashed and in its carrier, around 6 p.m., when the dog with no owner in sight came up to them.
She said Benny “freaked out” and got out of its leash and the Labrador began to chase it before attempting to “close its jaws” around Benny’s neck.
“I tried to rescue Benny by throwing myself at the dog to give my rabbit a couple of seconds to run away,” said Tian, adding that the dog was “so slippery” that not only could she not catch him, but she ended up slipping and falling.
“I hit my head and my side, but I kept running.”
Benny, said Tian, is like a son to her and hearing him “screech” was heartbreaking because she thought he was going to die from shock when she managed to catch him.
“The pet owner didn’t even apologize or check if I was okay. Her dog clearly almost killed my rabbit, and she showed no remorse and just walked away.”
A couple of neighbours nearby approached Tian and told her that the same dog had killed another pet rabbit a couple of weeks back.
“It was shocking that the owner would allow the dog off-leash again in the same park after such an incident happened. I’m having trouble sleeping as I’m really worried about other children and pets who could be attacked next.”
While Tian wanted to brush the incident aside, she approached the owner after the dog came back and frightened her friend’s daughter.
“A male friend of the owner with tattoos starting flexing his muscle and was walking up to me while calling me a crazy bitch,” said Tian.
“I’m so thankful that a nearby man came and stepped between us.”
According to Clay Adams, spokesperson for the City of Richmond, fines for situations like Tian’s can go up to $10,000, but would be ordered by the judge.
“In this situation… an owner would be fined for allowing their dogs to run at large which brings a fine of $150,” said Adams.
“The city’s community ambassadors, as part of their duties patrolling parks and public spaces, are also monitoring and reporting instances of off-leash dogs in an effort to build awareness and remind owners of their responsibilities.”
