Professional dog walkers on the North Shore are warning the public about a self-appointed vigilante on the trails who could be targeting pit bulls.
One of Treks 4 Pets’ walkers happened by an intimidating sign posted near the nexus of the Dreamweaver and St. Marys trails on Monday. It’s addressed to “the A-hole owner of Rosie the pit bull” and threatens rather medieval repercussions if the two cross paths again.
“I was attacked once, and will now carry a 20-inch chain with a one-pound steel ball on the end to crack the dog (and owner if need be) on the skull,” the note reads.
It goes on to state the “beast should be chained,” and the owner needs to be “reported and fine – or spanked.” It’s signed, “One of several angry walkers.”
“I was scared. I have staff on the trails every day,” said Chantelle Dawson, co-owner of Treks 4 Pets. “To read something like that, that’s just so violent, it was really unsettling.”
Dawson, who owns a well-behaved bluenose pit bull named Sophie, worries this person may harm Sophie or other dogs.
“If someone saw her running on a trail and mistook her for this Rosie dog, suddenly he’s conked her over the head with a steel ball,” she said.
People often misinterpret (a) dog’s playing or excitement as aggression and overreact, Dawson added. Negative publicity about pit bulls and other bully breeds has had an impact on the public’s perception even though most have good owners “who are extremely diligent in their care and training,” Dawson said.
Of her 261 clients’ dogs, Dawson said she’s never seen one attack involving a pit bull. She has, however, seen problems with golden retrievers, Australian shepherds and pointers – “all the dogs people think are the family dog.”
The sign has raised hackles among the North Shore Professional Dog Walkers Association.
“The main concern among our members is that someone is suggesting that beating up a dog is a good thing or that that’s a sensible way to deal with a problem,” said Barry Rueger, spokesman for the association.
Leashing dogs on the trails isn’t typically necessary, Rueger said, but if Rosie is a threat, her owner should know better.
“It always comes down to owners more than the dogs, to be quite honest. Unfortunately, there are some owners who figure ‘I’m not on a city street so I can get just let my dogs run rampant,’” he said.
Dog attacks on humans are extremely rare, he added.
“It’s always bad when it happens. Without knowing the specifics of the situation or what happened, it’s really hard to say how to react to it. Obviously someone had a bad experience of some description,” he said.
No one in the association knows who “Rosie” or her owner might be, Rueger said.
The RCMP aren’t wagging their tails over the note.
“We would be concerned over public safety issues, as the letter appears to be threatening in nature,” said Cpl. Richard De Jong, North Vancouver RCMP spokesman. “We would encourage anybody, if they have an issue with either a dog on the loose or off-leash, to call (the bylaw department) or the RCMP.”
