Dennis Bagarich was convicted of attacking a dog

The owners of three Calgary dogs that mauled a woman in 2022 were ordered to pay $15,000 in fines over one year and banned from owning any animals for 15 years.

Dennis Bagarich hung his head as Judge Gordon Wong handed down the sentence.

“(Bagarich) He puts his will on the safety of the community. He's not a responsible pet owner,” Wong said.

In February, Bagarich agreed to euthanize one of his pets and pleaded guilty to two of 12 statutory charges in the death of 86-year-old Betty Ann Williams.

“He hopes the other two dogs will be returned knowing they are a danger to the community. “It is irresponsible not to take any action to euthanize the three at once,” Wong said.

The fate of the other two dogs will be determined by another court at a later date.

On June 5, 2022, Bagarich's American Staffordshires — Bossy, Cinnamon and Smokey — were in the backyard of his property on 21st Avenue NW when the dogs broke through the fenced and gated backyard and into the alley where Williams had planted a garden.

According to the agreed statement of facts, the animals “were not under Mr. Bagarich's control or tether when released.”

One of the three captured dogs seriously injured Smokey Williams, so Bagarich agreed to officially sign off on euthanizing the dog. It comes immediately after a February court hearing at the Calgary Animal Services shelter.

Bagarich pleaded guilty to one count of assault by an animal causing serious injury to a person and one count of having an animal at large.

Other charges were dismissed under the Responsible Pet Ownership Act, and all charges against her partner, Taylor Kalking, were dismissed.

No criminal charges have been filed against Bagarich and Calkins.

Calgary Crown Prosecutor Benedict Leung testified in court that all three dogs were involved in the attack, and that blood was found on each of their chests and noses.

Wong told the court: “Whether he was attacked by three dogs or just one, it's very serious.”

Leung asked for a fine of $15,000 and Bagarich to be banned from owning animals for 10 to 15 years.

Defense lawyer Rabi Ahmed had no problem with the fine but disagreed with the ban on owning pets.

The city will be in court on May 14 to decide the fate of Bossy and Cinnamon.