The attack happened last Tuesday on South Main and 1300 S where Zoran Maunaga attends school at the Horizonte Instruction and Training Center.
“Three other people were bit trying to get the dogs apart. The dogs were loose and off the leash when they attacked,” said Maunaga’s friend Carolyn Howe.
Maunaga came to American thirteen years ago as a Bosnian refugee. He has a prosthetic left eye and relies on his service dog Buffy to get around.
“That always amazes me. You know, if he's at my house he knows the layout it's not a problem. But, when it's some place different he doesn't know where he's going,” said Howe.
A police report shows that the two pit bulls have attacked before.
“But, it sounds to me that they should have been confiscated. Well, if they killed another dog last year,” said Howe.
Maunaga is living on disability and can’t afford to pay the $970 for Buffy’s emergency care plus an additional $2,500 for the surgery to fix her hip. The veterinarian told Maunaga if Buffy doesn’t get the surgery soon it will leave her disabled.
Maunaga had to turn down an expense-paid trip back home to see friends and family because of the attack.
“His friend was taking him back to his country to see his mother to see his whole family and when this happened they told him that she couldn't go,” said Howe.
It’s been four years since Maunaga saw his mother. Now it will be longer as he fights to save his best friend.
The pit bulls were found and euthanized.
If you’d like to help contact Advanced Veterinary Care during normal business hours and explain how you’d like to help Buffy.
Advanced Veterinary Care
1021 East 3300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84106
801-942-3951
(ABC 4 News - August 31, 2011)
