Regina has seen 'troubling dog attacks this year,' police say after man badly injured

A Regina man is recovering after an attackfrom two dogsleft him severely injuredMonday, his family says.

Rod McDonald's family saidon social mediathat he was attacked by two pit bulls while retrieving his green bin from the alley behind his residence.The family, in a statement to CBC on Wednesday, saidMcDonald is recovering in hospital with "very serious wounds" to his body.

The incidenthappenedat about 2:40 p.m. near Albert Street and Regina Avenue, according to a Tuesday Regina Police Service news release.

Police told CBC they hadapprehended the dog owner. Their news release saidanimal control seizedbothdogs.

Police investigators said they hope to find video of the daytime attack or speak with people who witnessed it.

The familysaidMcDonald is stable and alert, but that they'll need more time to assess the long-term effects. McDonald has a long road to recovery ahead, they said.

"As animal lovers, we believe every pet deserves a responsible owner committed to their well-being. Pet owners have a duty to ensure the safety and care of their animals," the family's statement said.

Regina police say they've taken noteof recent attacks involving dogs, including an Aug.19 incident that left a woman seriously injured.

"Regina has experienced troubling dog attacks this year," the Regina Police Service said inan emailed statement Wednesday.

The police service works with animal control to handleincidents with animal-related threats, the statement said. In Regina, thatresponsibility is overseenby the Regina Humane Society.

Bill Thorn, directorof marketingand public relations at the humane society, said the organization is tasked with investigating reports of aggressive behaviour of dogs at large.

The attacks are investigated on multiple aspects, like witness reports, whether a bite occurred, whether the animal was provoked andthe severity of the aggression, Thorn said inan emailed statement.

The humane societycompiles thatinformation and may submit it to the city prosecutor for evaluation on whether further action is warranted under the city's animal bylaw, including the possibility of a proceeding to have an animaldesignated as a dangerous dog.

The humane societydoes not determine if a case goes forward, or if the animal is deemed dangerous, he said.Any actions to be taken after that stageare determined at the direction ofthe prosecutor and the courts, based on the evidence provided, Thorn said.

"We understand that this process can make it difficult to immediately solve many at-large dog/dog bite situations,"Thorn said in his statement. "However, we encourage residents to continue to report any issues immediately so that appropriate action can be taken within the scope of, and as the existing bylaws, allow."

McDonald's familysaid they're advocating for awareness.

"We urge the community to push for stricter enforcement of the Animal Protection Act and tougher penalties for neglective owners, particularly those who use animals as weapons," the family'sstatement said.

"No animals should be left with an owner who has failed in their responsibility to provide proper care."