A Vernon woman who was attacked by a dog while out for a run has been awarded more than $400,000 compensation after suing the dog’s owner.

According to a June 17 BC Supreme Court decision, licensed practical nurse Kaarina Schrott was left with permanent injuries following the attack.

“The expert evidence before me concludes Ms. Schrott will never be able to return to the same kind of work she was doing before the incident, or in fact, any vocation which requires crouching, kneeling, squatting, crawling or sitting in a deeper flexed knee position,” Justice Karrie Wolfe said in the decision.

“She is not expected to make a more complete recovery.”

The case dates back to December 2020, when Schrott was jogging on an unnamed trail in Vernon when she was approached by a large, off-leash dog, which then attacked her.

The dog grabbed her elbow and pulled her to the ground.

She started to scream, and the dog’s owner, Jocelyn Gaetan Roger, got out of his truck and pulled the dog off.

When she tried to stand up, she realized she couldn’t. Roger helped her into his truck.

“Mr. Roger gave her his full name and his phone number; she confirmed his phone number by calling his cell phone before she exited his truck,” the Justice said.

Schrott managed to drive home, but couldn’t walk. She crawled into her house and shouted for help.

She was taken to the Vernon Jubilee Hospital and had surgery a couple of days later.

The attack had left her with a significant injury to her left knee, including a lateral tibial plateau fracture and meniscus tear, along with minor injuries to her elbow.

It was two months before she could walk unassisted.

Schrott had owned One Step Foot Care, but following the attack, she was unable to work as 80 per cent of her time was spent bending and kneeling.

She later attempted to work part-time, but it left her with increased pain. She eventually sold the business to one of her employees and has not returned to work.

A doctor confirmed that her symptoms were likely to be permanent, and complete recovery wasn’t likely.

In November 2021, Schrott took legal action against the dog’s owner.

The decision said Roger was traced to a property in Gold Bridge he owned, and an address in Surrey, but he never responded to the suit and letters sent to both addresses were returned.

In 2025, Schrott registered a default judgment on the title of Roger’s Gold Bridge property.

Much of the decision goes through the history of Schrott’s injury and the medical prognosis.

“(Schrott) was 41 years old at the time of the incident. She was well-established in her career as a licensed practical nurse and was working in her own health care clinic as both the general manager and a hands-on foot care nurse. The business was successful, employing Ms. Schrott and several other individuals. By all accounts, Ms. Schrott was passionate about and dedicated to her work,” the Justice said.

“Before the incident, Ms. Schrott was a physically active individual, enjoying outdoor pursuits such as jogging, downhill skiing, camping and gardening. She was energetic, outgoing and heavily involved in the life of her family, including her three children who depended on her.”

Now, moderate activity leaves her with knee pain, which she ranks as seven out of 10.

She now can’t hike, jog or run, and the dog attack also took an emotional toll.

“Schrott also describes feeling fearful of further injury, scared of off-leash dogs, and (feeling) guilty at not being able to participate and be present for her family in the same way she was prior to the incident,” Justice Wolfe said.

Ultimately, the Justice awarded $145,000 for pain and suffering and $200,000 for loss of earnings, along with $30,000 for cost of future care, and $17,000 in special damages.

She was also awarded $19,000 to cover legal costs, bringing the total to $411,352.