Winnipeg inner-city residents say they're terrorized by man, 2 dogs
Residents of Winnipeg's West Broadway neighbourhood say a man is terrorizing people with his two dogs and despite numerous complaints, the city isn't doing anything about it.
Pete Barkman said he and his wife Karen were nearly mauled while collecting empty bottles and cans from recycling bins in an alleyway about three months ago.
"All of a sudden we heard this guy come around the corner and he sicced his dog on us," he said.
"Basically I just grabbed Karen by the back of the legs, threw her inside the dumpster and I jumped in."
Barkman said they escaped before the dogs could do anything more than pull on his pants and bite his shoes, but he claims that others have been bitten so badly they needed stitches.
He believes the individual is trying to scare away people from collecting cans and bottles so he can claim them himself.
Would disappear when officers arrive
People in the area are afraid of the man and his dogs, said Lawrence "Spatch" Mulhall, executive director of the Broadway Neighbourhood Centre.
Mulhall said he has called the city to complain, but by the time enforcement officers arrive, the individual and his dogs would be gone.
"I mean, they can't find him, there's a big area for them to cover, they're undermanned, I guess. I don't know," he said. "But they'll leave and five minutes later he walks by again, with his dogs not on a leash."
At a nearby soup kitchen, Paul Cook said he has also had run-ins with the man and his two dogs.
"Those dogs should be put on a leash, because to be honest with you, if not, those dogs are going to get killed because he made a lot of enemies," Cook said.
Numerous 311 calls made
Area resident Debbie Wall said she knows who the individual is and she has made numerous calls to 311 about the dogs being unleashed and wandering the neighbourhood.
"I've been dealing with Animal Services all along. I've even been asked to appear in court as a witness for them a couple of times; this individual just doesn't show up," she said.
"I was told it was 'struck for service.' I'm going, 'What does struck for service mean?' It sounds like they're just going, 'Oh well.'"
Wall said she can't understand why the city hasn't been able to enforce any sort of punishment or take the dogs away, especially given the city seems to know his name and where he lives.
Frustrated, she said she has written directly to Winnipeg police Chief Devon Clunis, asking him to intervene. She said she received no response.
CBC News asked the city about the situation, but a spokesperson said they can't comment on specific cases.
