MICHIGAN -- Sammy, a 12-pound shih-tzu described as a lovable dog, was attacked and killed by a neighboring pit bull last week.
Owners Dan and Dee Richards of Newport witnessed the attack while sipping coffee on their backyard deck at about 9:30 a.m. Thursday in their Pheasant Run subdivision in Newport.
"My wife is a wreck. That was her baby. We treated (Sammy) like our kid," Mr. Richards said a day after the incident.
Sammy, who would have turned 9 today, was lounging on the deck next to his owners when a pit bull ran in the back yard and grabbed him.
"He violently shook him like a rag doll," Mr. Richards said. "We both jumped off the deck and tried to free him. We fought with him, he ran to the front yard, and I tackled him again and fought with him some more until he finally let go long enough for me to grab Sammy. The owners pulled up and took control of their dog."
The couple, who suffered minor injuries, rushed Sammy to Ark Animal Clinic on N. Telegraph Rd. in Newport. About seven hours later, Sammy died from internal injuries. He also suffered numerous puncture wounds.
The owner of the pit bull, who lives down the street from the Richards residence, brought the dog to Monroe County Animal Control on Friday.
According to Linda Benson, director of Monroe County Animal Control, the dog was put down that same day.
Mr. Richards said the dog had a history of running loose.
"It ran loose most of the time in the neighborhood. We heard that (the pit bull) attacked another dog and bit a neighbor last week," said Mr. Richards, a retired City of Monroe police officer. He added that the owner of the pit bull apologized the day after the incident.
Still, Mr. Richards said the fatal attack could have been avoided if the dog was on a leash. He hopes the tragedy will encourage all dog owners to restrain their pets.
"All dogs need to be on a leash. So many dogs are not leashed and I wish people understood how important it is to use leashes," he said. "We were just sitting on our deck in the backyard. This happened because that dog wasn't on a leash. It's just not fair."
The law mirrors Mr. Richards on the issue of restraining pets.
The local animal control's ordinance article 7, section B, reads "It is unlawful for any person to permit any animal, except domesticated cats, to be at large or to stray beyond the property of such person unless such animal is restrained by leash and under the control of a responsible person or unless such animal is engaged in lawful hunting or hunting practice, or in an exhibition and is accompanied by a responsible person."
(Monroe News - Jul 6, 2011)
