Police dog handler charged after canine bites Calgary boy

A Calgary police officer has been charged and his service dog is being sent back to the U.S. after it bit and injured a 12-year-old boy in Aspen Hills in March.

CPS "has determined that it is in the best interest of the dog and community to return the animal to the originating broker in the United States," police said in a statement.

The officer — who still faces an internal police investigation — has now been charged with four bylaw infractions.

The dog — a three-year-old Belgian Malinois called Marco — broke free from its handler's fenced backyard in Aspen Hills on March 30 and came across three children playing on the street. When 12-year-old Ali Hassan ran from the dog, it chased him to his home and bit him on the leg, causing puncture wounds.

Prior escape

The handler has been charged with one count of an animal running at large and one count of an animal attacking a person and causing severe injury in relation to biting Hassan.

The boy's injury was the result of a "severe bite" that rated a five on the Dunbar dog bite scale, said Calgary's chief bylaw officer, Alvin Murray. Six is death, he noted.

During their investigation, bylaw officers discovered that the handler's pet dog, a Doberman, had escaped with Marco once before, on March 11. He faces two more counts of dog at large in relation to that case.

A mandatory court appearance is required in all serious aggressive dog incidents, and a judge can impose fines of up to $10,000 for each charge.

For now, the officer — who is not being named publicly — is still performing regular patrol duties and will be assigned a new dog soon, Supt. Blair White told reporters on Thursday.

'Fresh start'

Following the incident, Marco was removed from service and kept at the CPS kennels, police said. He will now be sent back to the States, where several police agencies have expressed an interest in him.

"He was born to work ... and he also deserves a fresh start," said Supt. White, who said Marco has tested above standards on socialization and obedience tests.

"By staying within Calgary, there would be that cloud over him," White said. 

"For him to resurrect his career now somewhere in the law enforcement community [in the U.S.] is the best that we can hope for him," he added.

The handler still faces a review under the Police Act once the bylaw matters have been concluded, police said.

Calgary police said the force takes "full responsibility" for the incident, explaining that service dogs require a high level of socialization when they are off duty, and live in residential neighbourhoods as part of the bonding with their handlers.