A South African man living in Squamish is appealing to Whistlerites to help him identify a woman whose dog injured his wife last week.
The couple needs information from the dog owner — or anyone who witnessed the incident — in order for their travel insurance company to process her medical bills, said Rolf Papsdorf.
“Our medical insurance, because it’s from South Africa, does not pay if we cannot supply details of what happened from the owner of the dog,” he said. “We basically have to cover all the costs ourselves. That is expensive. Canada is not a cheap country.”
His wife, Jennifer Costa, was at Lucille Lake last Monday (July 28) around noon with an acquaintance walking her dog when the pair crossed paths with two other women who were both walking dogs as well. One of the dogs was a white and brown pit bull, a breed that Costa is afraid of. As they talked, Costa positioned herself between the small dog and pit bull before the pit bull broke loose from its handler and lunged at her.
“It jumped forward, possibly to attack the little dog,” Papsdorf said. “It ran into my wife and threw her over. She fell over very (hard).”
Although she was in shock, Costa asked the woman for her information in case she needed it later on, but she refused, he said.
“She said, ‘Sorry, it was an accident,’ and walked away,” Papsdorf said. “My wife was able to get back to the car, but in the evening she couldn’t get up anymore.”
On Wednesday, the injury was so bad that she went to the doctor, who told her she definitely tore a muscle, but might also have fractured her pelvis.
“He said we definitely need to x-ray,” Papsdorf said. “He gave us some special medication to try and relax her muscles in order to find out if it’s more the muscles or a break.”
In the meantime, bills are adding up.
“A trip to the ER clinic was $700,” he said. “We’re here for an extended period waiting for our application for permanent residence. As long as we do not have permanent residence status we can’t get local medical aid.”
His wife remembers few details from the afternoon, but said the woman had light hair, was around 26 years old with a slim, but sturdy build.
Anyone with information is asked to get in touch with the couple at 604-849-0792 or email tham at [email protected].
