A death-row dog responsible for seven attacks against humans is on the loose after it was stolen from an animal shelter in Coquitlam, B.C.
Jasper, an eight-year-old German shepherd cross, was awaiting a possible lethal injection when someone cut through the lock on his cage and released him late Monday night or Tuesday morning.
Mounties are now sounding the alarm.
"Somebody knows the dog is out there and causes a risk for public safety," Cpl. Bert Paquet told CTV News.
The city had filed an application against the dog's owner, Claire Olsen, to have Jasper destroyed in response to a series of attacks dating back to 2005. She didn't appear in court this week to address the application.
In one attack, a newspaper delivery boy was bitten. In another, a woman was treated by paramedics for multiple bite wounds.
Staff at the animal shelter declined to comment on what sort of supervision was in place the night Jasper was stolen, or what their policies are for keeping dangerous dogs secure.
But in the middle of the day on Thursday, the gate at the back of the shelter was unlocked, and anyone could walk in.
Police say that Olsen is an obvious suspect in the dog-napping, but the trail has gone cold and they're asking for members of the public to come forward with any information they might have.
Watch CTV News at 11:30 for a report from Jina You
