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Dog that attacked local senior has been destroyed

The dog that attacked a West Vancouver senior leaving him with gashes and missing a fingertip has been put down.

The dog that attacked a West Vancouver senior leaving him with gashes and missing a fingertip has been put down.

Gary Cuthbert, 82, was hospitalized Sept. 28 after being attacked by a dog while on a walking trail beneath the Lions Gate Bridge.

 Gary Cuthbert, an 82-year-old West Vancouver man, stands under the Lions Gate Bridge where he was attacked by a dog last Friday. The dog has since been destroyed. (Mike Wakefield/North Shore News)Gary Cuthbert, an 82-year-old West Vancouver man, stands under the Lions Gate Bridge where he was attacked by a dog last Friday. The dog has since been destroyed. (Mike Wakefield/North Shore News)

The woman who owned the dog has come forward to the West Vancouver police.

“The information we have from the individual is that they had the dog voluntarily destroyed on Monday,” said Const. Jeff Palmer West Vancouver police spokesman.

The dog was a four-year-old cross between a Labrador and Rhodesian ridgeback, Palmer said.

Palmer said the woman was very distraught and remorseful about what happened.

According to her initial statement, the dog was leashed but she lost her grip when the dog took off after Cuthbert. She told investigators the dog had been spooked by a person riding by on a bike and that it didn’t have any history of aggression.

The woman added she wanted to give Cuthbert a ride to the hospital but first ran to get her cellphone from her vehicle. When she returned, Cuthbert had already walked home to call 911.

Cuthbert said he was relieved to hear the dog wouldn’t be back on the trail.

“I’m glad it’s done because I don’t want someone else to get beaten up. You never know,” he said.

And, Cuthbert said he is recovering well.

“I’ve got all kinds of support from my neighbours and friends I didn’t even know I had,” he added.

The dog’s owner is expected to meet investigators voluntarily for a full statement on Wednesday, Palmer said.

“The assigned investigator will review the file and determine if there’s any further police action,” he added.