A woman was hospitalized after she was assaulted by a man outside Nanaimo North Town Centre. Police say he took exception to the woman's off-leashed dog aggressively approaching his leashed dog. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

dog confrontation

Woman head-butted during Nanaimo off-leash dog confrontation

Jun 23, 2025 | 2:07 PM

NANAIMO — Local police are looking for a man who assaulted a woman outside a Nanaimo shopping centre when her off-leash dog ran aggressively toward his leashed dog.

It happened on Monday, June 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Nanaimo North Town Centre loading bay area near Dollarama, Nanaimo RCMP Cst. Sherri Wade said.

The man kicked the woman’s dog, and when she intervened, he head-butted her, sending the woman to the ground.

Wade told NanaimoNewsNOW the suspect then ran off looking for his dog.

“A number of witnesses stayed on scene to help the victim. She was later transported to the hospital by emergency health services.”

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Witnesses included people who were leaving Montana’s restaurant just west of the incident scene at the time, Wade stated.

The suspect is described as a Caucasian man between 35 and 45 years of age, with short, dark hair and a stocky build.

He was wearing a red shirt, tan shorts, and walking a medium-sized white dog with black spots.

While the physical encounter was not captured on an exterior surveillance video system, Wade said video evidence from before and after the encounter was retrieved and reviewed by police investigators.

While Wade said the desire to protect a leashed dog from an aggressive unleashed one is understandable, she said the suspect’s actions were not appropriate based on the information available to police.

“It’s the aftermath, it’s the confrontation, and we do see this more and more right now. I think because the weather is nice, all the dogs are out, and perhaps the dogs aren’t used to other dogs, or perhaps there is some dog aggression.”

Wade added some dogs are great with people, however, some may struggle to interact in a safe manner with other dogs.

“Learn how to protect that dog and other dogs by being on-leash in public places and then muzzle training your dog to give you and your dog that extra bit of security,” Wade added.

Anybody with information regarding this incident, including potential witnesses who haven’t already spoken to police, are asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP at 1-250-755-2345.

The confrontation took place at this loading by just south of Dollarama and across from Montana’s BBQ & Bar (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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