Montreal

Pit bull attack sends Montreal woman to hospital for three days

Nancy Martel wants her neighbour in Ahuntsic-Cartierville to get rid of his dog after it attacked her last Wednesday, leaving multiple wounds on her hand and leg.

Dog owner says he will not have his pit bull put down, despite attack on neighbour

(CBC)

A Montreal woman is calling on the city to step in and remove a pit bull from her apartment building after the dog attacked her, sending her to hospital with multiple wounds to her hand and leg.

The incident, which was caught on video, happened on Oct. 14 at the entrance to an apartment building in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville district.

WARNING: disturbing images. Dog attack sends woman to hospital.

9 years ago
Duration 0:37
Nancy Martel wants her neighbour get rid of his dog after it attacked her, leaving multiple wounds on her hand and leg.

Nancy Martel was holding the door open for a woman and the pit bull, when the dog lunged for her leg, biting her and dragging her down onto the steps outside.

On the video captured by the building's security camera, the dog attacks Martel for more than 20 seconds before she is able to break free.

The woman tries to pull the dog back multiple times, but Martel is dragged outside the front entrance as she tries to remove the dog's mouth from her leg.

Following the attack, Martel says she spent three days in hospital being treated for her injuries. She had to get multiple stitches on her hand and leg.

Owner says dog has never bit anyone before

CBC News spoke to the dog owner, Steve Huneault.

He said the dog, which he said is 13 years old, has never bit anyone before.

Huneault said he will not have his dog euthanized.

In September, a dog was put down after it attacked an eight-year-old girl in Brossard. The owner eventually gave the dog over to police after several hours of negotiations.

Residents want city to act

Since the attack, the pit bull has become a source of concern for residents in the building.

Jean-François Dufour, the building manager, said he has asked police and the SPCA for help.

It could take up to three years to get the owner evicted if the city doesn't intervene, said Dufour.

Michele Blais, a spokesperson for the borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville, said the dog owner must take the dog to a veterinarian specializing in animals with behavioural problems, to assess whether it will have to be euthanized.