City wants dogs involved in fatal attack on elderly people euthanized

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Betty Ann Williams died June 5 when she was attacked by three of her neighbor’s dogs behind her home on Capitol Hill

Betty Ann (Rusty) Williams, 86, died after being attacked by three dogs in a northwest Calgary alley on May 5, 2022. Photo by GoFundMe

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The city of Calgary has applied to euthanize three dogs that attacked and killed an elderly woman in June.

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The application was made under the Dangerous Dogs Act to the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, requesting that the dogs involved in the June 5 attack be humanely euthanized, the city said in a news release Thursday afternoon.

“The Dangerous Dogs Act application only deals with the disposal of the dogs and requires the court to order the dogs involved in the incident to be humanely euthanized,” the release said.

Police responded to the Capitol Hill Northwest community in the 1500 block of 21st Avenue NW around 2 p.m. on June 5, finding 86-year-old Betty Ann Williams with serious injuries. She was transported to hospital with life-threatening conditions, but died shortly afterwards. Williams is believed to have been working in her yard at the time of the attack.

A back alley in the 1500 block of 21st Avenue NW where the attack took place. Darren Makovichuk/Postmedia

The dogs are currently in custody after being seized by public peace officers. Calgary police and law enforcement officers are continuing to investigate the attack.

The response to the attack was criticized after it was revealed that EMS took 30 minutes to respond after the initial call to 911. Alberta Health Services previously said the call was determined to be non-life threatening after the the first report. A second call was made and an ambulance arrived nine minutes later.

An independent review of the response then began.

dshort@postmedia.com