Leadership with the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation held an emergency meeting Monday following a dog mauling in Pelican Narrows that left a young woman critically injured.
According to a media release sent out by PBCN, community health staff told leadership the incident was the fifth dog attack reported in recent days. Health staff also raised concerns that earlier incidents involved dogs believed to belong to the same owner.
PBCN Vice-Chief Halcrow says leadership is now seeking clarification from the RCMP regarding how earlier complaints were handled and whether additional measures could have prevented Monday’s attack.
“Our health staff have been responding to these incidents, and we take their concerns very seriously,” Halcrow stated in the media release. “We want to establish the facts, understand what happened and determine what more can be done to protect our members.”
The First Nation is requesting a formal review of all reported incidents and police responses prior to the mauling. Leadership is also asking police to examine the circumstances surrounding the ownership and control of the animals involved to determine if grounds exist for enforcement action or charges against the owner.
Halcrow emphasized that while PBCN has been taking steps to address a broader stray-dog population in the community, Monday’s attack involves distinct issues of ownership and accountability.
“A rule or bylaw does not protect anybody if there is no effective way to enforce it,” Halcrow said, raising questions over who holds the authority to act when dangerous animals are reported. “Our members need to know who will respond when they report an immediate safety risk.”
According to the First Nation, a volunteer animal-rescue group removed approximately 45 dogs from Pelican Narrows during two operations earlier this year and is scheduled to return to the community on Wednesday.