TEXAS -- At 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, Leslie Cantrell was walking her two dogs, on a leash, in her neighborhood.
In a matter of minutes her morning walk turned violent.
She found herself and her dogs under attack by two dogs roaming free.
In a matter of minutes her morning walk turned violent.
She found herself and her dogs under attack by two dogs roaming free.
"By the time I made it to the end of my street I heard noise. I turned and looked and I saw two large white Akitas charging me" says Cantrell.
Akita dogs are considered great guard dogs, can weigh more than 100 pounds and are known for the possibility of being aggressive toward small dogs.
Cantrell's dogs weigh 30 pounds.
"I was screaming. I was yelling. I was trying to fight the dogs off" she says.
Akita dogs are considered great guard dogs, can weigh more than 100 pounds and are known for the possibility of being aggressive toward small dogs.
Cantrell's dogs weigh 30 pounds.
"I was screaming. I was yelling. I was trying to fight the dogs off" she says.
Cantrell adopted Indy 12 years ago.
The Border Collie has undergone two surgeries and a blood transfusion after last Thursday's attack.
"They severed one of her kidneys. They sliced open the abdomen wall. They did damage to her intestines. She's still fighting for her life. We have to decide whether or not she can survive another surgery or if we have to make the decision to euthanize her" says Cantrell.
Six days after the attack, Cantrell is headed into her second surgery.
Neighbor Marcia Gibbs and others came to her rescue that day.
The Border Collie has undergone two surgeries and a blood transfusion after last Thursday's attack.
"They severed one of her kidneys. They sliced open the abdomen wall. They did damage to her intestines. She's still fighting for her life. We have to decide whether or not she can survive another surgery or if we have to make the decision to euthanize her" says Cantrell.
Six days after the attack, Cantrell is headed into her second surgery.
Neighbor Marcia Gibbs and others came to her rescue that day.
"I couldn't see her finger and I thought at first her finger was gone. When we got in her house and rinsed it off I saw her finger was still there but it was just mangled" says Gibbs.
Cantrell says she can't move and doesn't have feeling in her right, pinky finger.
She's told she's in for a number of surgeries to attempt to restore the feeling.
The dogs, it turns out, are not strays but belong to a neighbor.
They're now at the Fort Bend County animal shelter.
Cantrell says she can't move and doesn't have feeling in her right, pinky finger.
She's told she's in for a number of surgeries to attempt to restore the feeling.
The dogs, it turns out, are not strays but belong to a neighbor.
They're now at the Fort Bend County animal shelter.
Legally the owner can get the dogs back because they haven't been accused in any prior attacks.
The animals will likely be returned on Saturday.
That's 240 hours after the bite, as required by law.
"It's not the first time those dogs have been loose in the neighborhood" says Cantrell.
"I don't think it's right that someone has to die in order for the dogs to be put to sleep. If they've shown aggression that should be enough." says Gibbs.
The animals will likely be returned on Saturday.
That's 240 hours after the bite, as required by law.
"It's not the first time those dogs have been loose in the neighborhood" says Cantrell.
"I don't think it's right that someone has to die in order for the dogs to be put to sleep. If they've shown aggression that should be enough." says Gibbs.
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| This is where the Akitas live |
So what does it take to have a dog euthanized?
The animal has to be deemed "vicious" in court and a judge has to order the euthanization.
Several residents say if the dogs come back they won't feel safe.
In Fort Bend County it is against the law to let your dog roam free.
Dog owners are required to have their dogs on a leash or in their immediate control at all times.
If you see dogs roaming in your neighborhood you are encouraged to stay away from them and call Fort Bend County Animal Control Service.
Animal control officers will be sent out to pick the dogs up.
Cantrell believes the owner of the dogs should be held criminally responsible.
The truth is dog attacks are normally handled in civil, not criminal, court.
Fort Bend County works 10 to 20 dog bites every month.
(myFoxHouston - Aug 11, 2010)
