Pound officer sues over attack by dog

After a dog attack put him in hospital with permanent scarring, a Winnipeg animal control officer is using the courts to bite back.

Brian Baryski, a city animal services employee, has launched a lawsuit with the Workers Compensation Board against Czeslaw Pawlowski for damages over injuries inflicted by a Labrador-shepherd cross nearly two years ago.

Baryski was knocked to the ground and bitten on his arms and legs by Pawlowski's dog, Mishen, in September 2004 while trying to seize the canine with other pound officers at Pawlowski's Pritchard Avenue home.

The lawsuit, filed in Court of Queen's Bench, claims unspecified general and special damages for Baryski and the WCB, which compensated him for a five-week period while he was off the job recovering.

"This has kind of played with my mind. I'm more leery of dogs, knowing what kind of power they have," Baryski, a pound employee for more than 25 years, said in March of last year during a court case that led to a destruction order against Pawlowski's pet.

Baryski was taken by ambulance to Seven Oaks General Hospital following the attack, during which Pawlowski allegedly punched him several times in the face.

Baryski refused comment through managers at the Logan Avenue animal services pound yesterday.

"The officer in question himself has asked me to send his regards and said he certainly doesn't wish to speak about it at all," said animal services field operations co-ordinator Rand Parker.

SCARS

Pawlowski -- a Polish-Canadian in his late 60s who speaks little English -- could not be reached for comment.

Though Baryski is back on the job, the statement of claim says he will continue to suffer a "loss of income" because of the attack that injured his right elbow, forearm, hand, right bicep and groin area. The claim adds he has scars "which have caused him pain, suffering and disability" for which he has sought chiropractic care and physiotherapy.

Parker did not confirm whether the destruction order on Mishen has been carried out. The dog attacked four people in separate incidents, including Baryski.