The City of Kamloops expects to have more to say about its investigation into a fatal dog attack by early next week.

Community Services Manager Will Beatty says the three pit bulls suspected of killing a 12-year-old Collie named Heidi on Sept. 8 are still alive and in custody.

“We do still have the pit bulls in our possession and are continuing with collecting evidence as well as reports from various folks to best support the decision that has to be made in this file,” Beatty told Radio NL.

The three pit bull-type dogs are alleged to have jumped over a fence and attacked the collie in its own backyard on Richmond Avenue just after 6 a.m., Sept. 8, before fleeing by jumping the fence again.

Beatty says CSO have been in contact with a number of people who believe those three dogs are the ones they’ve had run-ins with in the past.

“We’ll continue to go down every road per se as it comes down to leads into this file, so continue to please submit information through Community Services, either online or by phone and somebody will be in contact with you,” Beatty said.

At this time, it is not clear if or whether the three dogs will be put down or if they will be rehabilitated, though a deadline for a decision to be made is fast approaching.

Under Section 49 of the Community Charter, the City is only allowed to impound the dogs for 21 days unless it has asked a court for approval to put the dogs down before that deadline is up.

“In addition to any other authority, if an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a dog is a dangerous dog, the officer may apply to the Provincial Court for an order that the dog be destroyed in the manner specified in the order,” the Community Charter reads.

“A dog that has been seized under this section may not be impounded and detained for more than 21 days unless court proceedings for a destruction order are commenced within that time.”

Essentially, that means the City has until the end of this month to decide its next steps.

While he could not say where the investigation is at, or which way the city could decide, Beatty previously noted the investigation will involve reports from veterinarians, toxicology reports, witness statements, and surveillance footage.

For now, Beatty says CSOs are caring for the dogs while the investigation is on going.

“We will make sure that these dogs are being walked, that they’re being fed well, and being cared for but with the understanding that a decision has to be be made for the interest of public safety and for the interest of all parties involved,” Beatty said.

“We don’t take these decisions very lightly at all.”

Beatty also previously told Radio NL that the three pit bulls were surrendered by their owner from an address that is known to CSOs. He also said the owner of the dogs could be facing more sanctions, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.

“The officer will follow up with any findings if there are violations for either dogs at large, if there are more sanctions that have to be put in place based on the dog responsibility bylaw,” Beatty said on Sept. 9.

“We’ll be contact with the dog owner itself. We’re working with the deceased dog owner as well.”