Update, 1 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 10
Authorities have seized a dog allegedly involved in the Oct. 3 attack of a cyclist along Salmon River Road.
Columbia Shuswap Regional District Electoral Area D director Dean Trumbley confirmed the RCMP and regional district animal control staff seized the dog from a Silver Creek residence on Thursday morning, Oct. 10.
"They did go to the property this morning and seized one of the dogs," said Trumbley, adding the fate of the seized dog will be discussed at an upcoming CSRD board meeting.
At an Oct. 7 town hall meeting at Silver Creek Hall, CSRD staff explained the potentially lengthy and costly process involved in seeking a court order to have a seized animal euthanized.
鈥淭hat is not an easy process, it鈥檚 not an inexpensive process, it鈥檚 not a short process,鈥� said CSRD administrator John MacLean, who noted the CSRD has never gone through the process.
Trumbley said he understood Silver Creek residents' frustrations, but stressed there's "so much liability all around dog control."
"It just makes it tough because you have to make sure you do the right thing, If you don't, then all of a sudden you're held liable for taking someone's pet away," said Trumbley. "Its a pretty serious matter when you're talking about taking someone's pet and potentially euthanizing the pet."
Trumbley did not yet know if any other actions were taken with the owners regarding the seized animal or their other dogs.
More information will be provided as it becomes available.
Original story:
RCMP and Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) staff visited the Silver Creek home of a dog involved in the recent attack of a cyclist.
Authorities were seen at the Salmon River Road property before noon on Thursday, Oct. 10, prompting speculation that one or more of the dogs belonging to the property's owners were being seized. This follows an Oct. 3 incident where Salmon Arm RCMP responded to a report of a dog having jumped the fence of a Salmon River Road property and bit a woman who'd been riding by on her bicycle. It also follows the Monday, Oct. 7 town-hall meeting at Silver Creek Hall, where CSRD representatives, including senior bylaw enforcement officer Chris Smit, shared what actions have been, and were being taken in response to separate attacks involving dogs from the same property.
During the meeting, Smit indicated his investigation into the Oct. 3 attack may lead to a resolution by the end of the week.
The Observer has contacted the CSRD and will provide more information as it becomes available.
