Item - 2020.DG13.3

The Dangerous Dog Review Tribunal:

1. Confirmed the determination of a dangerous dog, and directed that the conditions of the order remain in effect, and that the Tribunal forward the reasons for this decision to Jared Purdy and the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards on or before November 27, 2020.

On November 13, 2020, the Dangerous Dog Review Tribunal issued reasons for its decision as follows:

The Dangerous Dog Review Tribunal Panel was presented with a Dangerous Dog Order appeal. The Tribunal considered oral and written arguments from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, the Animal Care and Control Officer Jim Konstantinidis, the Appellant Jared Purdy and Adam Cragg the owner of the victim dog Sunny. The panel also heard oral evidence from the Appellant’s wife Monica Purdy and considered written evidence from several neighbours as “character” references for Roxy.

The Tribunal determined that a dangerous act occurred and was committed by Roxy, the dog in question. Further it determined the Order was issued in accordance with the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 349, Section 15 was so issued in accordance with the By-Law. The Tribunal concluded the act was unprovoked and not in self-defense and was the second dangerous act on record.

The Tribunal accepts the following evidence.

1. Roxy had been in the owners’ home and ran out when the front door was opened as some guests left.
2. Roxy ran to the street and bit Sunny who was being walked by owner Adam Cragg. Sunny had been walking on a leash on the sidewalk in front of the Purdy residence but Mr. Cragg moved his dog off the sidewalk to the street to try to avoid Roxy.
3. The attack was unprovoked. Roxy stopped the attack and went back to the house when Monica Purdy called her.
4. Sunny’s wounds were not deemed severe. There was no dispute that Roxy had bitten Sunny.
5. This was the second non-severe attack by Roxy on record. The first one was in 2015. This combination of two non-severe attacks resulted in the Dangerous Dog Order being issued.
 

Based on the evidence and for the reasons above, the Tribunal unanimously confirms the determination of the Dangerous Dog Order.

Appeal of Dangerous Dog Order issued, August 6, 2020, Appeal DDRT2020-08.