Father of boy killed by dogs says media attention 'brutal', urges kindness for dogs' owner

The father of a boy killed by two dogs on Monday says he saw no indication the animals were a danger to his son.

The father of a boy killed by two dogs on Monday says he saw no indication the animals were a danger to his son.

Wesley Grist's 11-year-old son Kache was attacked and killed by two dogs owned by his friend, who he rents a room from in a southeast Edmonton home.

At a Sunday press conference, Grist defended his roommate and his home, saying the dogs were "clumsy oafs" and never acted aggressive with his son.

"I would never put my son in a spot where he was at risk, and I love my son," Grist said. "There was nothing that gave us any warning that this would be an issue."

Kache had known the dogs for more than a year, Grist said, and had spent time alone with them many times in the past.

"He was around these dogs that everybody is labelling as these monsters – I watched these dogs cuddle with him almost every day," Grist said.

City officials have not confirmed the breed of the dogs, but Kache's grandmother – who says she saw them in person – said they were Cane Corsos, also known as Italian Mastiffs.