Robin Elgie, Fort St. John dog-mauling victim, improving, daughter says

The victim of a Christmas Day pit bull attack in Fort. St. John, B.C., is doing much better after surgery, his daughter said Saturday.

• Fort St. John senior attacked by pit bulls could lose use of hands, arms
• Victim of brutal B.C. dog attack flown to Edmonton hospital

"There's no infection, and the tendons in his arm are starting to heal," Sheryl Elgie, who was driving back to Edmonton from Fort St. John, said.

"There's a little bit of movement in his fingers, so all those things are really good signs. ... It's fantastic news. It gives him a more promising outlook than it was before."

Robin Elgie, a 66-year-old heavy-duty mechanic and machine operator, was mauled after two marauding pit bulls invaded his trailer home last week and killed his cat.

The attack began after Elgie's partner, Wendy Lee Baker, 51, opened the trailer's door to let in their small dog. The pit bulls charged through the open door.

Elgie managed to get between the dogs, while Baker, after being bitten several times in a futile attempt to save the cat, escaped to a bedroom and called 911.

Dogs ripping and tearing his arms

The two dogs turned on Elgie, ripping and tearing at his arms until RCMP officers arrived and put the animals down.

His daughter said it's still too early to know whether Elgie will regain the use of his hands because there was a lot of nerve damage.

"They're encouraging him to keep his hands very still and immobile right now."

Her father has come a long way since he was first admitted to hospital, Sheryl Elgie said.

"It was horrible. The first day we got to see him, he was in an extreme amount of pain," she said. "At that point, I don't think he even knew that we were there. It was really, really difficult."

She said her children are amazed at their grandfather's toughness.

"He just kind of powers through the pain," she said. "He has such a great outlook. He's so positive. I'm pretty sure he will bounce back."