FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 2 2016
$1.25
NEWSSTAND PRICE
PULSE 13
Escondido
Alt-country duo fits right into Nashville’s indie scene LOOK 23
Absolute Design
Patented stones are a cut above
TODAY’S DRIVE 36
Jaguar F-Pace
Automaker races into the SUV market LOCAL NEWS . LOCAL MATTERS . SINCE 1969
NORTHSHORENEWS
INTERACT WITH THE NEWS AT
nsnews.com
Vigilante vows vengeance on pit bull Professional dog walkers worried over violent note BRENT RICHTER brichter@nsnews.com
Professional dog walkers on the North Shore are warning the public about a self-appointed vigilante on the trails who could be targeting pit bulls.
One of Treks 4 Pets’ walkers happened by an intimidating sign posted near the nexus of the Dreamweaver and St. Marys trails on Monday. It’s addressed to “the A-hole owner of Rosie the pit bull” and threatens rather medieval repercussions if the two cross paths again. “I was attacked once, and will now carry a 20-inch chain with a onepound steel ball on the end to crack the dog (and owner if need be) on the skull,” the note reads. It goes on to state the “beast should be chained,” and the owner needs to be “reported and fine – or spanked.” It’s signed, “One of several
angry walkers.” “I was scared. I have staff on the trails every day,” said Chantelle Dawson, co-owner of Treks 4 Pets. “To read something like that, that’s just so violent, it was really unsettling.” Dawson, who owns a well-behaved bluenose pit bull named Sophie, worries this person may harm Sophie or other dogs. “If someone saw her running on a trail and mistook her for this Rosie dog, suddenly he’s conked her over the head with a steel ball,” she said. People often misinterpret (a) dog’s playing or excitement as aggression and overreact, Dawson added. Negative publicity about pit bulls and other bully breeds has had an impact on the public’s perception even though most have good owners “who are extremely diligent in their care and training,” Dawson said. Of her 261 clients’ dogs, Dawson said she’s never seen one attack involving a pit bull. She has, however, seen problems with golden retrievers, Australian shepherds and pointers
See RCMP page 7
BLUE BUS
Strike notice issued but no action this weekend
JANE SEYD jseyd@nsnews.com
The union representing West Vancouver’s Blue Bus drivers and mechanics served 72-hour strike notice after receiving a vote 100 per cent in favour of job action from its members on Wednesday.
But both the District of West Vancouver and the union are assuring passengers the buses will keep rolling over the Labour Day weekend. That’s because the two sides in the labour dispute have also agreed to mediated talks and that no job action can start until at least 24 hours after the mediator decides the two sides
are too far apart to continue. No dates have been confirmed yet, but talks aren’t expected to begin until Tuesday at the earliest. “My concern right now is reassuring riders there isn’t going to be a strike this weekend,” said Donna Powers, spokeswoman for the District of West Vancouver. Representatives for both the municipality and the union said they remain hopeful a negotiated settlement can be reached without a strike. Mediator Grant McArthur was appointed Monday by the Labour Relations Board following a joint
See Union page 7
Professional dog walker Kim Helps, with Sophie and Darla, happens by a note threatening violence against a pit bull named Rosie and her owner. PHOTO CINDY GOODMAN $2,388,000 • 5 bedrooms • 3 bathrooms
$538,000 • 1 bedroom • 1 bathroom
RENTAL HOMES AVAILABLE 604.649.4215 • www.tdecotiis.com
RE/MAX Masters Realty 1453 Bellevue Avenue, West Vancouver
OPEN SAT 2-4 & THURS 10-NOON OPEN SUN 2-4 VIEWS!!! 1840 Mathers Ave, Ambleside WV 201-1390 Duchess Ave, Ambleside WV