Salmon Arm Mastiff-Rottweiler Cross Ordered Euthanized After Multiple Attacks
A female mastiff-Rottweiler cross named Luna has been ordered destroyed by a British Columbia provincial court judge after escaping through a fence and attacking people on three separate occasions near Salmon Arm. The ruling, delivered by Judge George Leven on December 16, 2025, determined that Luna posed a significant danger to public safety with the potential to kill or seriously injure individuals.
Three Separate Attacks Documented
According to court documents, the first reported incident occurred on June 19, 2024, when a 75-year-old man cycling past a rural property on Salmon River Road was knocked off his bicycle and bitten by Luna after she escaped her property. Just two days later, on June 21, 2024, a woman walking past the same property south of Salmon Arm was attacked by the same dog, which had again escaped through holes in the perimeter fence.
Animal control officers visited the dog's owners, Colin and Sandra Burger, later that same day. During their discussion, Mr. Burger acknowledged that the fence surrounding their property had holes that allowed their dogs to escape and roam freely. He admitted that the dogs occasionally ran at large and that neighbors had notified him when they found his dogs on their properties.
Owner's Response Deemed Inadequate
The court heard that Mr. Burger had observed a female pedestrian hitting Luna earlier in the day but was unaware that the woman had been attacked by the dog. According to Judge Leven's written decision, Mr. Burger did not express concern for the pedestrian's well-being after being informed about the attack.
Mr. Burger informed animal control officers that he had purchased shock collars for the dogs with one-kilometre ranges and demonstrated their effectiveness by activating a remote. However, the officers reported that they observed the dogs and noted that their behavior appeared unaffected by the activation of the remote control device.
Third Attack Leads to Seizure
Despite these incidents, Luna was initially allowed to remain on the property with the Burgers' other dogs. However, on October 3, 2024, a third attack occurred when a woman cycling past the property was attacked by Luna. Court documents indicate that a passerby had to beat Luna away with a baseball bat, and the victim required stitches for puncture wounds on her wrist and left leg.
Four days after this third attack, a community meeting was held with approximately 70 residents attending to discuss the ongoing dangerous dog situation. On October 10, 2024, Luna was seized by authorities and has been detained since that time, pending the recent court hearing and final determination of her fate.
Court Rejects Owner's Proposed Solutions
During the court proceedings, the Burgers argued that they had created an enclosure within their property and promised to keep Luna either in that enclosure, inside their home, or on a leash at all times. However, Judge Leven did not accept their proposed solutions as adequate protection for public safety.
In his ruling, Judge Leven emphasized that he had considered the attitude of the Burgers, noting their expressions to animal control officers, to the people who were injured, and in court. The judge determined that the owners' response to the dangerous situation was insufficient to guarantee public safety moving forward.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about dangerous dogs in British Columbia communities and the legal mechanisms available to address animals that pose significant threats to public safety. The ruling serves as a reminder of pet owners' responsibilities to properly contain and control their animals, particularly those with demonstrated aggressive tendencies.
