Bylaw officers in Dawson City, Yukon, looking for dog that killed another dog

Bylaw officials in Dawson City, Yukon, are warning residents about an aggressive dog they're trying to find, after the animal killed another dog.

"It's pretty clear that there's a problem. So we want to get on top of this, find the animal," said David Henderson, the town's chief administrative officer, on Monday.

The town issued a notice on Sunday saying that the dog had attacked and killed another dog on Friday at the north end of town, near Duke Street and Sixth Avenue. It said bylaw officers and RCMP were called to respond, and that the aggressive animal "had not been located."

It also said that the dog was not believed to be running loose, and that there was no active threat to public safety.

Henderson said that the attack on Friday follows another reported incident involving the same dog, just outside of Dawson City. He said territorial officials were investigating that incident, and the town is now working with them to find the dog.

"The challenge now is tracking down witnesses and going through the process and making sure people are safe," he said.

"We do recognize that this is the second incident that's been reported on this dog."

He also said that even though officials don't believe the dog is on the loose in town, people should still take some "minimal precautions."

"You know, be aware, watch the back alleys, try to make sure your animal is on a leash, and make sure that you're with young children when they're walking around right now. Keep your eyes open."

Bylaw officials describe it as a "black and white Thai Ridgeback pitbull."

They're asking anybody who sees the animal to contact them, or RCMP. In a statement to CBC News, RCMP said they are assisting in the investigation.

Henderson also urged the dog's owner to contact bylaw officers.

"We have to follow up and ask to make sure that it's taken care of in a safe way, in a humane way. And, you know, recognizing that part of the problem comes back to the owner and how, you know, they deal with an animal that's already demonstrated aggressive behaviour," he said.

"I think people recognize that, you know, that's probably a hard thing for that dog owner to do as well — but it's the right thing to do. So you cannot have a dangerous animal, especially being loose in the way this one was."