No criminal charges for dog owners in fatal attack, Calgary police say

There will be no criminal charges against the owners of three dogs that fatally attacked an 86-year-old woman in northwest Calgary in June, police say.

Calgary Police said Tuesday they determined that the necessary elements to support laying charges for criminal negligence causing death against the pet owners were not met.

They came to that conclusion after speaking to several witnesses and conducting a criminal investigation and consulting with Crown prosecutors.

"As tragic as this incident is for those who knew the victim, as well as the community, laying criminal charges requires that elements specified within the Criminal Code of Canada have been met," said Staff Sgt. Travis Baker of the Calgary Police Service's general investigations unit.

"We found the owners of the dogs took reasonable precautions in securing the animals within their property by using a locked gate. There is no way to prove the owners had knowledge the dogs would escapeas they had no history of previously escaping from this residence."

He added that investigators found no sign of malicious intent on behalf of the two dog owners.

Police were called to the northwest community of Capitol Hill on the afternoon of June 5 for reports of an86-year-old woman being attacked by three dogs.

Paramedics took the woman to hospital in life-threatening condition, but she died a short time later.

In July, dog ownersDenis Bagaric and Talyn Calkins were charged with 12 offences under a city bylaw. They were jointly charged with the following under the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw:

• 3 offencesof an animal attack on a person causing severe injury.
• 3 offencesof an animal attack to a person.
• 3 offences of an animal bite to a person.
• 3 offencesof an animal running at large.

In July, one of the dogs involved in the attack was surrendered to the city.

In a release, police said they understand theoutcome may be disappointing to the public given there was a life lost.

"We want to express our condolences to the family and friends of the victim," police said.