A grieving family hopes offering a reward will help them get information about a woman who fled the scene after the dog she had with her killed their family dog.
AJ (Adrien) Tay and his family were relaxing near Second Beach on Aug. 5 around 5:30 p.m. when their Maltipoo, Sky, was attacked by a larger dog.
After the attack, the unidentified owner fled with her dog while several people followed behind. Videos have been shared on social media showing the woman exiting the area on a trail with her dog. Many people speculated on the attacking dog's breed.
"There will be consequences," says grieving dog owner
In a video shared on his Facebook page, Tay clarified: "I don't really care what the breed is; that's not what this conversation is about.
"Ultimately, we're here to look for justice for Sky. At the end of the day, this dog did attack her and there will be consequences."
Andy Tay has launched a GoFundMe to raise money to offer as a reward for information about the owner of the attacking dog who fled after the incident and for legal fees.
"The family consisting of [three] young children witnessed the whole brutal attack ending with Sky laying lifeless after the larger dog finally released her. No one should ever have to experience trauma like this, let alone children," Tay wrote in the fundraiser.
Tay goes on to describe how Sky "would dance for you when she wanted food and be the biggest princess and [would roll] over expecting pets on her belly."
Sky's brother searches for his sister following death
The family also owns another dog, Zuma, who has spent days staring at Sky's playpen "wondering when she's coming back."
The Tay family is also pushing to have the city and province change their by-laws and regulations to prevent future dog attacks.
So far, the GoFundMe has raised $5,075 of its $10,000 goal.
Animal Services told V.I.A. in a previous interview that a suspect hasn't come forward yet but is reviewing numerous submitted tips.
"We appreciate the public’s assistance, as these tips are crucial to our investigation," it said.
Animal Services noted that dog owners play a crucial role in preventing canine violence by following by-law regulations.
"Sky was not just a dog...she was a family member," Tay added in his video.
Anyone with additional information that could help identify the individual should contact the VPD on their non-emergency line at 604-717-3321, referencing file number 24-135707.
