A GoFundMe page has been set up for a woman who was left with permanent injuries following a vicious dog attack near the Aldergrove ice arena last week.
Langley RCMP attempted to locate the dog, described as a brindle-coloured large breed, likely a mastiff, and its owner, but so far nothing has turned up, said Cpl. Holly Largy.
The victim, Shelby Kirnaghan MacNeil, was stepping out of her vehicle at around 7 p.m., at the corner store at 272 Street and 29 Avenue, when the attack happened.
Shelby said she screamed loudly and then curled into a ball on the ground. The the dog continued to bite at her leg and buttocks.
“He shook me like a rag doll and then was called off with a whistle by someone,” said Shelby.
“I don’t know where the dog came from, but the nice man who gave me his belt so I could tie off my leg to stop the bleeding, I want to thank (him) for being there.”
A man and woman walking a small dog came to her aid after the attack. The man provided his belt.
Shelby needed 85 staples and three stitches to close up the bite wounds on her legs — wounds that stretch from her knee to her ankle. She expects to have permanent scars and it’s unknown what other permanent damage may have been done.
She has to take antibiotics for two weeks, administered through IV therapy.
Shelby doesn’t have work benefits to help her out when she is off work. Her sister Kim Tamminga said the road ahead is going to be long and painful.
Click on the GoFundMe page here.
Langley Animal Protection Society executive director Jayne Nelson said the agency would like to speak to any witnesses in an effort to track down the dog and owner.
Hopefully the owner will do the right thing and contact them, said Nelson.
Police said they canvassed the area for video surveillance.
Langley Township’s manager of animal control Jenny Ramirezsaid said public safety is the main goal.
She hasn’t been called out recently for any dog attacks. She said from what she has seen of the injuries via the media, this was a very serious attack by a dog.
“This is not common in Langley,” said Ramirez.
In the 11 years Ramirez has investigated dog bites in Langley, there have been 367 she has personally investigated. These include dogs biting humans, other dogs and livestock.
Anyone who witnessed the attack or who knows the dog’s owner is asked to call the Langley RCMP non-emergency line at 604-532-3200.
BELOW: This is a picture of a brindle bull mastiff, not the actual dog that attacked Shelby
