Nieces remember 'fiery' 86-year-old woman killed in a pit bull attack

The 86-year-old Calgary woman killed in a 2022 pit bull attack was remembered by family members as a strong, brave woman who beat cancer twice. 

Friends and family knew Betty Ann Williams as "Rusty," a nickname she earned while serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

"To me, she was Aunt Rusty," wrote Nancy Atkinson, a niece, in a victim impact statement filed in court on Thursday.

"Her red hair gave her the nickname Rusty, which also matched her fiery attitude."

• Pit bull that killed 86-year-old Calgary woman to be euthanized, owner pleads guilty

Williams was killed in a pit bull attack in the alley behind her home in June 2022. 

As part of a sentencing hearing, two statements were filed Thursday by prosecutor Ben Leung after the dogs' owner pleaded guilty to bylaw offences a day earlier. 

Williams's niece said her aunt was so proud when she was able to buy her own home. 

"I want to remember her pride in buying her house on her own and all the work she did there, how much she enjoyed working in the garden," said Atkinson. 

'Panic and pain'

Williams was gardening in her back alley when her neighbour's three pit bulls escaped from a fenced yard.

At least one of the dogs attacked the 86-year-old, causing fatal injuries. 

"I could not keep myself from imagining the level of panic and pain my aunt must have been going through during the vicious attack," wrote Susan Hall-Williams, another niece.

"She was defenceless because of the size and weight of the three dogs and the suddenness of the attack."

• 'Are you sending an ambulance?' Neighbour says multiple calls made to 911 following dog attack

On Wednesday, Denis Bagaric pleaded guilty to having animals running at large and animals attacking a person causing severe injury, both offences under City of Calgary bylaws.

Bagaric's American Staffordshire dogs — Bossii, Cinnamon and Smoki — escaped his fenced backyard in the northwest community of Capitol Hill on June 5, 2022.

But in an agreed statement of facts, Bagaric only admitted that Smoki was involved in the attack.

He agreed to that dog being euthanized. 

• Owners of 3 dogs that fatally attacked woman in June charged under Calgary bylaw

Justice Gord Wong still has to decide if Cinnamon and Bossii were involved in the attack and if they will also be put down. 

Originally, both Bagaric and his partner, Talyn Calkins, faced a dozen bylaw charges. As part of the plea, all charges were withdrawn against Calkins, with Bagaric pleading guilty to two of the 12 offences. 

Bagaric will pay a fine of $15,000.

Wong must also decide whether to impose a 15-year ban on pet ownership.