Victim of Cambridge, Ont. dog attack claims same animal is up for adoption without disclosure

A Cambridge, Ont. woman who was involved in a vicious dog attack this summer claims one of the dogs involved is now up for adoption at the Cambridge District Humane Society (CDHS), without disclosure about the violent incident.

Sara Clark and her three-year-old Rottweiler, Samoa, were out for an early morning walk on July 30 when she was ambushed by two large off-leash dogs on Industrial Road.

The tense moments were caught on dash cam video.

“Thankfully, some bystanders stopped and helped me with the dogs because they were going to kill my dog,” Clark told CTV News.

The attack left both Clark and her dog injured.

Clark now refuses to go back to the scene of the incident.

“[Samoa] has a giant tear across the top of his head. He had multiple punctures in his neck, tongue, rib cage,” she said.

On the day of the attack, Clark took a video of the two dogs who attacked her.

A photo taken by Sara Clark shows one of the dogs who attacked her animal in July. (Submitted: Sara Clark)

She believes one of the dogs was a pit bull and the other was a dark-coloured Presa Canario mix.

Clark alleges the pit bull was designated as unsafe by the City of Cambridge, but the other dog was not.

She also believes the Presa Canario was the instigator in the attack.

“[The Presa Canario] was the first one that came in after she ran around the truck and she started fighting and attacking my guy,” Clark recalled.

Last week, she noticed a Presa Canario dog listed for adoption on CDHS’ website. Clark believes it was the same one who attacked Samoa.

The dog’s name was Heidi, a five-year-old Presa Canario stray, who “enjoys meeting new people but isn’t a fan of other dogs.”

“No one knows anything about my past, which is okay, because I’m looking more at my future,” the profile said.

Heidi the dog's adoption listing through the Cambridge District Humane Society. (Courtesy: Cambridge District Humane Society)

“My biggest concern is not in the fact that you're trying to adopt a dog out. It's the lack of disclosure, saying that you have no history on the dog when you do,” Clark said. “I would be concerned that that dog is going to, if not harm or maim another dog, but if a child in the middle of that, there's so much potential for damage and liability.”

CTV News reached out to the Cambridge District Humane Society on Monday. A few hours later, Heidi's profile was no longer on their website.

"CDHS carefully assesses each animal for adoptability and a lot of information is strictly confidential and won't be shared publicly. Prospective parents have open and honest dialogue with staff so they can make an informed decision,” explained Michelle Gellatly, CDHS’ executive director, in a statement.

Heidi the dog posed for a photo in this undated image. (Courtesy: Cambridge District Humane Society)

Clark thinks the dog’s past should be clear to prospective families.

“[CDHS] could see firsthand how vicious these dogs were, and to not disclose that to the public, to me, is absolutely negligent and a liability,” Clark alleged. “What else are you not telling the public when it comes to adopting dogs out?”

The humane society said their goal is to “give the animals up for adoption the best chance for a happy, loving life with the best family possible.”

Sara Clark on Industrial Road in Cambridge, Ont. on Dec. 16, 2024. (CTV Kitchener/Heather Senoran)Clark’s city councillor, Corey Kimpson, told CTV News she’s been made aware of the situation.

She said the City of Cambridge delegates authority and decision making relating to animal services to CDHS, who provide oversight of animal bylaw enforcement, investigations, rehabilitation and licensing.

“This occurrence may provide an opportunity for future discussion around how to support the experience of those who are accessing services or looking to adopt,” she said, in part, in a statement.