Chihuahua dies in Brantford attack, city seeks to identify other dog owner

A woman and a dog are visible in these images posted online by the City of Brantford following a deadly dog attack. (Courtesy: City of Brantford)

A beloved dog has died after an attack in Brantford.

Charlie, 16-year-old Chihuahua, was walking with one of his owners on Friday when there was a confrontation with another dog, according to a social media post from the city.

CTV News spoke to the woman who was with Charlie. She said the other woman couldn’t hold her dog back and yelled, “he’s going to kill it!”

Charlie died during the attack.

“The dog didn’t need to go like that,” she told CTV News.

As for the woman with the attacking dog, she said, “I can’t believe that she took off.”

“Bylaw officers attended within minutes, and we found that an unknown dog had attacked a little Chihuahua, and unfortunately the dog perished due to its injuries,” confirmed Dave Wiedrick, the city’s director of bylaw compliance and security.

Video from the victim’s house was shared with bylaw officers, showing a female and a larger dog but, as of Monday afternoon, the pair had not yet been identified.

“Both dogs, the Chihuahua and the attacking dog, were on-leash, but the owner of the attacking dog had no control over the dog as it went for the smaller dog,” Wiedrick explained.

Officers canvassed the neighbourhood over the weekend, collecting more security video from people living nearby.

The city put out a public appeal for information and several images just before noon on Monday.

Wiedrick said since the pictures were posted online, tips have been coming in.

“We now have four officers following up on their leads to try and find this dog so that we can lay the applicable charges.”

Under the Dog Owners Liability Act, the owner could be held responsible for the attack. They could be fined or the dog could be seized.

However, Wiedrick said it is too soon in the investigation to know what the appropriate charge would be.

“We could also label the dog as potentially dangerous or dangerous – in this case, probably a dangerous dog, which would mean that it would have to be on a muzzle, there would have to be a sign at the residence and someone over the age of 16 would have to control it.”

At this time, the Brantford Police Service is not involved in the investigation.

Bylaw officers described the unknown owner as a female with dark hair, which was pulled back. She was wearing glasses, dark pants, a dark winter coat, a light-coloured scarf and black gloves.

The dog was described as medium-to-large in size, brown with white paws and wearing a dark reflective harness and light-coloured leash.

Both were last seen walking in the area between 9:59 p.m. and 10:02 p.m.

Heartbroken family

Charlie’s heartbroken family is grappling with the sudden death of their beloved Chihuahua.

“I would like the owner of the dog to please come forward. This dog has attacked another dog. We don’t want it to attack another dog or a person, so therefore they should come forward and do the right thing,” Wiedrick said. “And for the family. The family is grieving the loss of their pet and I really think the person should come forward and help us and them.”