Ymeoshi Burkes says on December 21 she left her two-year-old dog Tyson tied up outside the house while she went to work.
Hours later, she received a terrifying phone call saying Tyson was being attacked by two stray pit bulls.
Burkes says her husky and pit bull mix loves attention and is always running around being playful.
[I am not seeing a husky/pit mix in these photos.]
But Wednesday’s event left her terrified. “It was...it was scary. Kind of like...something happening to one of your kids.”
According to neighbors, two stray pit bulls, described as well-groomed, stocky, black and white dogs, attacked Tyson outside Burkes' Oakland Park home.
Burkes says her neighbors told her, “…they drug him...off his chain, broke his collar…”
Her neighbor, Robin Whitledge Sr. says he was taking a nap when his son ran inside their home yelling for him to get a gun.
“I automatically thought Tyson was dead…One of them had Tyson's head in its mouth and it was crushing his skull and one of his eyes was like bulging out."
Whitledge says when Tyson moved his back legs he knew the dog was still alive and with a 38-callibar gun in hand… he fired.
"I don't know if I hit one or not but I shot down at them. The first one ran off. He skidded across the yard over here. The second one just stood there and looked at me so I shot another one and he finally left."
Tyson lost his left ear and received over 20 internal stitches at a local animal hospital.
Veterinarian Lena Harris says pit bulls aren't naturally aggressive but are commonly bred to attack other dogs. “What we see with this breed whenever they do attack they like to go after front legs and ears...and they will actually literally rip off a front leg."
Burkes says, “The owners need to be responsible.”
The two pit bulls have not been caught but Burkes and Whitledge say stray dogs wander around their neighborhood frequently.
They believe the dogs were wearing collars and belong to someone in the area.
Columbus Animal Care and Control are patrolling the area looking for the dogs. They say anyone who sees the dogs fitting the description should call animal control at 706-653-4512.
Police say Whitledge was not charged with firing a gun within city limits because of the nature of the situation.
Burkes says some of her holiday spirit has returned because Tyson will be at home for Christmas.
(WRBL - December 23, 2011)
