A pit bull named Ferb will be euthanized following a British Columbia judge’s ruling that deemed the dog dangerous in connection with a deadly backyard attack that left a 12-year-old collie dead.
The September 8, 2024, mauling in Kamloops shocked the community after three pit bulls allegedly jumped a fence and fatally attacked a neighbouring dog named Heidi. All three animals—Ferb, Snoopy, and Bella—were seized by animal control officers that morning.
Although it remains unclear which dog delivered the fatal bites, Provincial Court Judge Roy C. Dickey concluded there was sufficient circumstantial evidence to hold Ferb accountable as part of a pack attack. “A pack mentality was likely at play here and that all three dogs participated in Heidi’s death,” he wrote in his ruling issued last week.
Snoopy had previously been euthanized for medical reasons, while Bella was put down after being declared dangerous. Ferb was the last of the trio to face judgment.
During the hearing, Heidi’s owner testified that she heard a disturbance and rushed outside to find three pit bulls circling her injured dog, who lay motionless on the ground. Blood was visible on at least one of the attacking dogs.
A veterinarian later testified that Heidi had sustained catastrophic injuries, including multiple puncture wounds, severed arteries, and damage to her neck and spine. An expert brought in by the City of Kamloops described the attack as “the most vicious and extreme” they had ever encountered.
Despite no visible injuries on the pit bulls themselves, the court accepted that the coordinated nature of the attack—dogs seen entering and fleeing the yard together—was enough to conclude collective responsibility.
Judge Dickey ordered that Ferb be euthanized within 31 days of the decision, closing a troubling case that reignited debate over aggressive dog behaviour and public safety in residential neighbourhoods.
