ManitobaA Winnipeg dog owner says she’s been left traumatized after three large off-leash dogs attacked her dog in North Kildonan.Olivia Watson says she learned dogs involved in North Kildonan attack had been involved in other incidentsNathan Liewicki · CBC News · Posted: Dec 11, 2025 8:35 PM EST | Last Updated: 23 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 5 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.Olivia Watson says her dog, Sadie, was attacked while they were walking on McLeod Avenue in Winnipeg’s North Kildonan neighbourhood on Tuesday. Sadie sustained bite wounds and had to be taken to the vet. (Felisha Adam/CBC)WARNING: This story contains images showing injuries to a dog.A Winnipeg dog owner says she’s been left traumatized after three large off-leash dogs attacked her dog in North Kildonan.Olivia Watson wasn’t harmed, but her dog, Sadie, suffered multiple bite wounds during their Tuesday evening walk down McLeod Avenue, between Roch and Rothesay streets.”It was awful, because I love my dog. She’s like my child. So I felt helpless in that situation,” Watson told CBC on Thursday.After Watson screamed for help, a motorist stopped and helped by ushering two of the attacking dogs into her vehicle. The owner of the dogs appeared and tried to gain control of the third animal, which Watson says bit Sadie around the scruff of her collar and in the rear.Sadie required medical attention and staples to close her wounds. The visit to the vet, complete with antibiotics and other medical supplies, cost Watson $200.”It was really traumatic and scary, and I just was hoping that we weren’t going to die, because I didn’t know. I mean, if they wanted to take us down, they could,” Watson said.Sadie suffered a pair of bite wounds near her neck and her rear after being attacked by other dogs on Tuesday, says Watson. (Submitted by Olivia Watson)In the aftermath of the attack, she took to social media to share what happened to her and Sadie. Watson believes the three dogs were Rottweilers.She quickly learned from comments on the post that others reported previous incidents involving the same three dogs.”It just seems like this is a reoccurring issue with those dogs, that they’re somehow getting out of their yard. It’s not secure, and they’ve come at other people and animals,” Watson said.”So it’s a huge concern knowing that this is not a first offence.”CBC reached out to the owner of the home Watson says the dogs came from, but hadn’t had a response prior to publication.One side of the home’s backyard is fenced in, but only with plastic.The city says the incident is under investigation.Dog owners should have expectation of safety: vetGrant Park Animal Hospital veterinarian Dr. Jonas Watson — no relation to Sadie’s owner — says he sees dogs that have been attacked by others a few times a year at his hospital.Incidents like the one that injured Sadie are unacceptable, he said.”I think every dog owner should have the expectation that they can safely walk their dog in the city of Winnipeg. That’s not asking too much,” said Dr. Watson.Dr. Jonas Watson, an owner of Grant Park Animal Hospital, is concerned that not every dangerous dog in Winnipeg has been designated as such by the city. (Felisha Adam/CBC)He believes the onus falls on the owners of potentially dangerous or aggressive dogs to ensure their dogs are confined so that others in the community — dogs and people alike — feel safe.His concern is that not all dangerous dogs are designated as such by the city.”There may be dogs that have not been found by the City of Winnipeg that cause problems, where the owners haven’t been reprimanded and haven’t had any requirements put upon them,” Watson said.”Those are the dogs that are of greater concern.”The city has handed out 56 tickets this year to people who have failed to prevent their dog from hurting a person or animal, according to an email from a spokesperson. The accompanying fine is $350.Winnipeg’s bylaw on responsible pet ownership notes that some dogs can be designated as dangerous if they’re likely to cause harm. Such dogs would be mandated to stay inside, or need to be secured properly if outside.If they leave home, those dogs need to wear a muzzle and be restrained with a shorter leash, the city says. Dr. Watson believes the city’s animal services department is doing its best to ensure that the appropriate safety restrictions are in place. He also says it’s up to the public to do their part and report dangerous dogs.That’s exactly what Olivia Watson is doing.She has altered her regular walking route with Sadie, and would like the owner of the other dogs to be held liable.”There needs to be more than just fines in place. Maybe the owners need to be reviewed and the dogs need to be brought in for further training,” Watson said.”I think that’s the only way this is going to stop. And it shouldn’t take multiple offences. It shouldn’t take a death or a mauling. It should happen now.”WATCH | Attack ‘traumatic and scary,’ says dog owner:Winnipeg woman says she’s traumatized after dog attackOlivia Watson says while out for a walk with her dog Sadie on Tuesday, they were attacked by three other off-leash dogs, leaving Sadie with multiple wounds. Watson says since the incident, she’s learned the dogs have been involved in others before. ABOUT THE AUTHORNathan Liewicki is an online reporter at CBC Manitoba. He was previously nominated for a national RTDNA Award in digital sports reporting. He worked at several newspapers in sports, including the Brandon Sun, the Regina Leader-Post and the Edmonton Journal.With files from Felisha Adam
Winnipeg woman says she’s shaken after 3 off-leash dogs attacked her pet
