A Saskatoon woman says she may have to give up her dog due to high vet bills after the animal was injured defending her from an aggressive, unleashed dog on Christmas Eve.

Lily Isaac said she and her boyfriend took her one-year-old shepherd-akita cross Jammers on a walk to a convenience store in the Confederation neighbourhood late Dec. 24. When they arrived, she said they were charged by another dog that was left untied in front of the store while its owners shopped. Isaac says the unleashed dog – which appeared to be part pit bull or bulldog – charged aggressively at her and her boyfriend. When Jammers got in the way, she said the other dog clamped its jaws down onto Jammers and the two dogs started fighting.

“The dog bit my dog and wouldn’t let go,” Isaac said. “I started panicking because I couldn’t get that dog to let go.”

The other dog’s owners came outside and managed to get their dog to release its grip on Jammers’ neck, Isaac said, but they still weren’t able to control their animal so she and her boyfriend took Jammers away from the scene down a nearby alley to safety.

Isaac said she reported the incident to both police and animal control, but was told there wasn’t much that could be done without the name or address of the other dog’s owners.

Saskatoon’s animal control bylaws require all dogs be kept on a leash under two metres in length and kept under proper control at all times when they are off the premises of the owner, except in designated off-leash areas. Dogs found at large could be impounded and the owners could face fines. Animals that display aggressive behaviour without provocation could be declared dangerous by a judge and subjected to court-ordered safety requirements or destruction.

Isaac said she doesn’t blame the other dog for what happened, and instead called on pet owners to be more aware of the potential risks when leaving animals unattended.

“It was clearly a reactive dog, and the owner should have been more responsible and tied it up,” she said.

Jammers was left injured after the attack, Isaac said, and she’s struggling to pay the high vet bills required for a full diagnosis. Isaac started a GoFundMe page to raise money for the bills, but said her vet suggested surrendering her dog to a shelter to ensure he gets treated.

“My dog is like my baby. He’s my everything,” she said. “Since the day I’ve got my dog he’s done everything with me. He’s never left my side.”

—With files from 650 CKOM’s Taylor MacPherson.