Reward offered in Little Grand Rapids for dead stray dogs

The chief of LittleGrand Rapids First Nation says a $25-per-head reward for stray dogs is being advertised on the local radio station after the fatal mauling of a woman in the Manitoba communitybut so far, no oneis taking up the offer.

"Nobody wants to do it," said Chief Roy Dunsford.

"We don't have anyone who wants to kill those dogs."

DonnellyRoseEaglestick was found dead Saturday morning at a construction site for the community's new water treatment plant.

RCMPlater confirmed the 24-year-old,whose body wasfound surrounded by dozens of dogs, died from an animal attack.

• Dog attack killed young woman on Manitoba First Nation, RCMP confirm

Dunsfordand his council were meeting with federal government representatives in Winnipeg Tuesday to discuss the health of his community, a meeting that was unrelated to the community's recent tragedy.

"[I'm] kind of scared. I'm scared for the kids,"saidDunsford."And the dogs already feel the taste of human being. Maybe the dogs will attack again."

He was one of the people who foundEaglestick'sbodySaturday morning surrounded by roughly 30 dogs, he said.

"It's kind of a shock. Really. Really a shock to me. To us,"Dunsfordsaid.

He said he wants the dogs out of his community or killed, but details of how that would happen are still unclear.

Others, including Manitoba Grand Chief DerekNepinak, have called for a dog cull in Little Grand Rapids.

• Chief, vet urge dog cull after mauling death that rescue group says was preventable

The chief said he doesn't want anyone else to die,which is why he issued the plea to his members. He saida rescue organization called him to offer to come in to the community to remove the dogs and put them in shelters, which he said he is also open to, but he hasn't heard back from the rescue since.

"We just want them out," he said.

Reward offered in Little Grand Rapids for dead stray dogs

7 years ago

Duration 1:43

The chief of Little Grand Rapids First Nation says a $25-per-head reward for stray dogs is being advertised on the local radio station after the fatal mauling of a woman in the Manitoba community but so far, no one is taking up the offer.

In the meantime, he's warning his members to stay indoors and to keep an eye on their children while he and his council determine who will deal with the pack of dogs that killed theyoung mother.

Community members in Little Grand Rapidsgathered Tuesday at the band office to discuss their concerns about the free-roaming animals.

"They're still in pain, they're still sad, they're still upset about the dogs," said bandcouncillor Robert Leveque, reached Tuesday morning in Little Grand Rapids.

The fly-in community, which has an on-reserve populationof roughly 1,200 people and is 270 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg,does not have band constables who will shoot the animals, he said. So far, no one in the community has volunteered to do it. RCMP officers shot one dog Saturday but will not carry out a cull, according to a spokesperson.

Leveque said people are walking in groups and carrying long sticks to protect themselves.

"A lot of people are calling in to the radio to get rid of those dogs," he said. "We're trying to figure out who's going to do it."

Stray dogs kill woman on Manitoba First Nation

7 years ago

Duration 1:27

Manitoba RCMP have confirmed that a young woman whose body was found surrounded by dozens of dogs died from an animal attack. Donnelly Rose Eaglestick, 24, of Little Grand Rapids First Nation, was found dead Saturday morning at a construction site for the community's new water treatment plant.

He said he's seen at least two dogs return to the area where Eaglestick died but he hasn't seen a pack roaming the community. There are strays "here and there," he said.

The chief and council plan to return to Little Grand Rapids Friday for Eaglestick'sfuneral.

Judy Klassen, the Manitoba MLA whose Kewatinook riding includes Little Grand Rapids,wasin the First Nation Tuesdayto hear the community's concerns.

Members of the community are working on creating a trust fund for five-year-old Danica Eaglestick, Donnelly's daughter, who has now lost both her mother and father.

"The grandmother called me up from Little Grand," said Dunsford, with tears in his eyes.

"She's looking for [her] mom. And that's where I was kinda hurt when they called me up."