Owner of dogs that fatally attacked Calgary woman is sentenced

A Calgary dog ​​owner will be sentenced Monday for a 2022 attack that led to the death of an 86-year-old woman.

Denis Bagaric pleads guilty to two city charges, admitting one count of an animal attacking a person and causing serious injury and one count of wildlife.

Betty Ann Williams, known as “Rusty” to those who knew and loved her, was gardening in the alley of her Capitol Hill home in June 2022 when she was mauled by three dogs.

She waited 30 minutes for an ambulance to take her to hospital, where she later died from her injuries.

Williams’ death sparked a wave of criticism against Alberta Health Services (AHS), which later admitted the call was deemed non-life-threatening and “categorized for police response,” delaying the arrival of an ambulance.

The Crown is seeking a $15,000 fine and a 10- to 15-year ban on owning animals.

-With files from The Canadian Press