Surrey mayoral candidate Linda Annis faces criticism over dog attack

Surrey mayoral candidate Linda Annis is facing criticism after a man said he required 27 stitches following a bite by one of her dogs. A 92-page report disclosed by Global News on Sept. 13 included a text from the man describing a deep, slashing bite through to the muscle on his bicep. He said the May 31 incident involved Ron, one of Annis's two Dalmatians, and that a neck injury affecting his jugular vein could have been fatal.

In June, Annis told the Now-Leader that a neighbour had reached down to pet her dog without asking outside her South Surrey home and had been “nipped.” She said the dogs were on leashes, police did not attend her home, and a bylaw enforcement officer did. Annis said she had allowed the dogs' licences to lapse and renewed them. At the time, Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton said the Surrey Police Service had not been aware of the incident.

Annis was fined $700: $300 for the attack and $200 for each unlicensed dog. The dog that bit the man was not put down but must be muzzled in public, is barred from dog parks, and prompted a requirement for a warning sign in Annis's yard. Annis said the bylaw officer later showed her a photo of the wound and estimated that five or six stitches were visible, but she has not seen the medical report.

She said she asked the man to show her the wound, checked whether he was all right and fetched an ice pack before he left for home. She later visited his home and was told he planned to go to hospital. Annis said she told him both dogs had been vaccinated, asked him to send a note after his hospital visit and checked on him again a few days later. About a month later, she received a letter from his lawyer, which she referred to her insurer.

In a Sept. 14 news release, Annis said this was the first time one of her dogs had bitten someone and that she accepts responsibility for the dog's behaviour. She said the licensing lapse was an oversight, and said she has met all requirements imposed by bylaw officers. She also said she would ask the city manager why city hall did not respond more quickly to Global News's information request.

Imagine Surrey mayoral candidate Mike Starchuk criticized Annis in a Sept. 13 release, noting that she had urged another dog owner to take responsibility after a dog mauled another dog in January. He said Surrey learned of the incident through a freedom-of-information request and also referred to a separate request involving Annis's texts to the police chief about impaired-driving checks near a golf course in her neighbourhood, as well as an Elections BC fine involving her party.