A woman who saw two dogs viciously attack a senior on a sidewalk outside her Sidney business on Friday said she was “terrified” that such a thing could happen.

“It was the most traumatic thing I’ve ever seen,” said Katherine Margetts, who owns The Shop at 9719 First Street.

She said just before noon, a senior living in the apartment above her store was set upon by two dogs that apparently escaped from a nearby house and yard. She said the woman, who she knows as Sherry, was caught and the dogs were biting her arms as she defended herself.

Margetts, who was with a friend outside her store at the time, said she first heard “a commotion” behind her, then turned around, saw the attack and screamed. That’s when one of the dogs turned its sights on her as it rushed through the open door of her shop, thinking that she and her friend would also be attacked.

“But someone called the dog.”

Margetts, who called 911, said two other witnesses were able to help the injured woman and bring her to Seaside Cabinetry and Design next door. The police and fire department responded within minutes, then the paramedics arrived.

BC Emergency Health Services said an ambulance with primary care paramedics responded to the scene and provided emergency medical treatment to the victim, who was taken to hospital in stable condition.

The Capital Regional District animal control unit confirmed Friday night that they are investigating the incident.

Margetts said the woman was wearing a heavier coat, which probably helped, but when she was removed, he could see blood and “it was obvious she was going to need a lot of stitches, probably tetanus shots, tetanus. It was extreme… and it’s just a shame. She was very traumatized. She was just shaking.”

Margetts said the owner of the dogs was not outside the home when the dogs escaped, but ran out shortly after the attack and seized the dogs.

“What really disappointed me was all he said was ‘oh they’ve never done this before’ over and over. Not once did he ask what the woman was like.”

Margetts said hours after the attack she was still shaking and in a state of disbelief.

“She kept saying, I need help. It was so shocking. She just put her arms up to defend herself and they were just on top of her.”

Margetts estimated the senior to be about 80 years old, “but she was not frail. She was sturdy, but she still couldn’t defend herself against those dogs. I couldn’t have either.”

The City of Sidney bylaw, administered through the CRD animal control unit, can consider a dog “dangerous” if it has seriously injured a person or aggressively chased or harassed a person without provocation.

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