Calls are growing for stronger animal ownership laws in Nova Scotia following the death of a 13-year-old boy who was attacked by three dogs.
Drew Nickerson died in hospital after he was mauled by three off-leash dogs in the community of Welshtown, N.S., on Jan. 3.
“Those dogs should not be allowed to run loose,” said Trish Harris, a family friend.
Harris is calling for stricter rules around large-breed dog ownership. RCMP have said that the three dogs that attacked Drew were two Cane Corsos and a Rottweiler.
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“Call it Drew’s Law, that anybody who has dogs that are known or are bred with their issues, that they have to be locked up, 100 per cent of the time, unless there is an adult with them,” she said.
RCMP say they’re reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing neighbours about the dogs’ movements.
But Dalhousie University law professor Wayne MacKay says the legality around cases like these can be complicated.
“It depends heavily on the facts, but one thing is quite clear, and that is that the dog owners do have a responsibility for others to protect them from any harm that may come,” he said.
As far as possible charges go, MacKay says it comes down to negligence, such as proving if the dogs weren’t trained properly.
“If there’s a case where the courts think that they didn’t follow the proper standards of care, and obviously the damage is as big as it gets — the death of a child — then they can do something about it,” he said.
No charges have been laid and RCMP say their investigation is ongoing. The dogs have been euthanized by a veterinarian.
— with a file from Rebecca Lau
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