The Society for the Protection of Animals and the Séreté du Québec are stepping up their interventions with a dog owner from Danville in Estrie. The two animals, which have been seen freely on the street several times, are fueling fears.
In the spring of 2023, surveillance camera images show a Rottweiler accompanied by a German Shepherd on public streets and on a neighbor's property while the postman tries to do his job. Four days later, the beasts chase a walker in the middle of the street. An initial complaint is then submitted to Arthabaska SPA, which issues a warning to the pet owner.
Eight months passed and in February 2024, following a recurrence of the animals, the Sûreté du Québec intervened and the SPA reactivated the file.
“Something will happen,” fears Denis Bélisle. All I ask is that the dogs be tied up according to city regulations so we can walk around the neighborhood in peace.”
When TVA Nouvelles visited the construction site on Monday, one of the two dogs was outside tied to a chain. The owner said he received fines totaling $1,400 and that he has now committed to keeping these animals on a leash.
No one has been attacked yet, but Danville citizens have fresh memories of events in 2021 in the neighboring community of Val-des-Sources, where two women were chased by Patrick Houle's dogs.
“The citizens are our eyes on the ground. When we issue notices, we encourage citizens to notify us if they see non-compliance. In this way we can intervene quickly and possibly avoid accidents,” explained the director of the SPA Arthabaska, Geneviève Bouffard.
The organization said it has not received any requests to assess the potential danger of these dogs at this time.