Alberta woman who ordered pitbulls to attack friend apologizes

CALGARY – A central Alberta woman who ordered her pitbulls to attack her friend will soon learn what sentence the court will hand her.

Rita Phillip of Sundre was found guilty last June of aggravated assault and criminal criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

Deanna Wolfe was found lying in a pool of blood and unconscious in Phillip’s trailer in August 2012 and emergency responders thought she was dead.

Phillip apologized to Wolfe during sentencing submissions today in a Calgary court.

The Crown has asked for seven years in jail for Phillip, while the defence wants probation and time served, as well as a ban on owning dogs.

Sentencing will resume on Friday.

Wolfe said outside court she did not accept Phillip’s apology. The attack came when she and Phillip were arguing.

She said she’s had 14 surgeries and still has to undergo nine more.

“What she did was almost take my life away. Right now I’m living with half my life, I have injuries, I don’t live like a normal person…I live a quiet, secluded life — hospitals, doctors, counsellors, family, that’s it. I don’t want to make friends, it’s hard. I’m in a great deal of pain.”

Phillip’s dogs had come to the attention of Sundre officials before. The town declared the two dogs vicious in 2011 following an attack on another dog at the same trailer park.

They had to be muzzled and on short leashes when out in public and confined to a pen when in their yard.

(CFFR, The Canadian Press)