Comox Valley 'Dog Whisperer' OK'd to assess dog involved in several attacks - Times Colonist
The Victoria provincial court will allow the Comox Valley "Dog Whisperer" to assess a dangerous dog held in custody at the city pound since March 19.
Ken Griffiths, a professional dog behaviourist who has 29 dogs on his property, has been granted full and unrestricted access to visit Bronx, a five-year-old Dogo Argentino-Rottweiler mix, and assess him.
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Judge Christine Lowe has allowed Griffiths to first meet Bronx unmasked, then to bring his own dogs into the pound as part of the assessment.
"I am very happy with the judge's decision and look forward to proving to the court that Bronx is not a dangerous dog, but a dog who didn't always feel safe and thus felt a need to protect himself, his owner and his territory," said Griffiths.
Bronx was seized from his owner, Richard Bonora, after a number of incidents. In August 2018, Bronx bit a much smaller dog on the back of the head and killed it. In June 2019, unleashed and unmuzzled, he bit another dog. In November 2019, Bronx bit a dog and a person. Finally, in March 2021, he lunged forward and bit a man who walked by him.
The City of Victoria deemed Bronx a dangerous dog and applied to have him destroyed.
According to Griffiths, the trainer hired by the city didn't feel Bronx needed to be euthanized.
"She did an assessment with the decoy dogs and a little girl plastic doll. He was very nervous of them all. He actually urinated himself when he was approached by the doll," said Griffiths. "He showed no aggression, no nothing."
The city was agreeable to letting someone adopt Bronx, give him proper training and show he was no longer a threat, said Griffiths. A friend of Bonora's, who had heard about Griffiths, phoned him and asked if he would adopt the dog.
"And that's what I did."
But the city still moved forward with the destruction order, said Griffiths.
A trial is set for Sept. 20. Griffiths said he is confident Bronx will be released to his care "allowing him to learn how to socialize properly, to play properly and to be respectful of other dogs and humans to live a full and happy life."
In a statement, the City of Victoria said applications to the court regarding dangerous dogs are always the last resort. It is satisfied that the arrangements for Griffiths' assessment will be done safely at Victoria Animal Control Services.
"The City looks forward to learning the results of Mr. Griffiths' assessment. As previously stated, the City's primary concern is public safety, and if it is possible to re-home the dog with adequate safety precautions in place, the City is open to exploring those options."
ldickson@timescolonist.com
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