Four adult pit bulls and a puppy, all suspected to be responsible for an attack on a Surrey, B.C., man and his dog on Sunday, have been picked up by police.

But the owner of the pit bulls is back on the street after being interviewed by police.

Surrey RCMP Corp. Jack Hundial says the animals were seized after someone in Vancouver spotted a suspicious truck matching the description of a vehicle associated with the owner of the pit bulls.

The dog's owner, after fleeing from the scene of the attack, has spoken with police and Hundial says charges as severe as assault with a deadly weapon are possible.

Jody Tomlinson, the 39-year-old man, who was bitten in Sunday's attack, has described how he was walking his dog near 146 Street and 80-a Avenue, when he noticed the pit bulls.

In an interview, he said he yelled out to the owner of the dogs to find out whether or not they were friendly. That's when the dogs attacked. "They were grabbing me on the back of the legs,'' Tomlinson said.

"It was just a big frenzy." The victim's dog was also hurt.

                                                    Calls for tougher laws

This and other similar incidents is leading to calls for tougher laws surrounding dangerous dogs.

"Irresponsible dog owners who allow their dogs to run rampant and attack people should not be allowed to own dogs," said B.C. New Democratic Party MLA Mike Farnworth.

Farnworth says the idea of a lifetime ban as a possible consequence should be considered by the province.

"If it means tabling a private members bill, then that's exactly what needs to take place, and if we can do something like that in the fall session, I certainly think we should," he said.

Currently, laws governing dangerous dogs are typically made at the municipal level.

They can include fines and restrictions, such as muzzling.

"Rules regarding dangerous dogs vary from city to city. According to one animal control worker CTV spoke with, if an owner moves, they're no longer obligated to follow restrictions imposed by a previous municipality."

Animal control officers can seek a destruction order from the courts. And owners can sometimes face criminal negligence charges

"If a dog bites a person, criminal negligence charges can be brought forward against the owner," said Janice Levers of the Surrey Society For The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

A Surrey man whose son was the victim of a pit bull attack would like to see the law go even further. Manjit Bajwa feels owners should face assault charges if their dog attacks.

"The owners of dangerous dogs, they have to take responsibility," Bajwa said.

Bajwa's son Sean was playing basketball with friends in May when two dogs lunged at him. The 11-year-old ended up in hospital with more than one-hundred stitches. The animals were destroyed, but his scars remain highly visible

The Bajwas are launching a civil suit.

With reports by CTV British Columbia's Julia Foy and Maria Weisgarber.