City impounded wrong dog in toddler attack, says owner

A Calgary couple isn't disputing that one of their dogs attacked a woman and her toddler, but they say the city impounded the wrong animal.

Thursday marked the second day of a provincial court hearing to determine the fate of Daisy, a two-year-old boxer-pointer cross.

Cari Caldwell was holding her two-year-old son, Aegnus, outside their Beddington home on April 24 when they were cornered by three dogs. Both mother and child suffered puncture wounds and required stitches.

The owners of the dogs are arguing the city took the wrong animal.

Isabella Cortis and her boyfriend, Lucas Logan, said they were in their home when the dogs must have escaped from the backyard.

Cortis has pleaded guilty to having her dog at large, and faces a bylaw charge of having an animal that attacks a person causing injury.

Cortis took the stand Thursday and admitted it was likely one of their dogs that attacked Caldwell, but they don't believe it was Daisy. The more likely aggressor was their older dog Douce, an American pit pull terrier, she said.

'She's so sad'

"I cry every day that I go to the pound and pet my dog. It breaks my heart when I have to leave after only five [or] 10 minutes. She's so sad. She doesn't even want to hold her head up some days that I go there and it just gets worse every day," said Cortis.

The couple felt so bad about the incident they took a cake and flowers to the Caldwells' home the day after the incident. They described themselves as responsible pet owners who have bred many litters, although they admit neither has had formal training.

Caldwell's husband, Jody, told CBC News the family just wants to put the attack behind them.

"We just want it to be over more than anything. It's long, drawn out. We don't care about the outcome. It's whether they keep the dog or don't. As long as the proceedings get done, that's all we care about," he said.

Two other witnesses to the attack took the stand, describing the dogs and the screaming that they heard from the victim.

There will be a brief appearance Friday to set a date for more witness testimony. 

If the commissioner does decide that Daisy is the dog that attacked, then the next decision will be whether she should be deemed a vicious dog, which could mean she is put down.