The family says it was shocking.
Their aunt was coming through the front door, when a pit bull they had never seen before charged past her and went straight for the 5 year old little girl.
They say their family chihuahua gave her life to save the little girl.
Jessica Capshaw says she was visiting her parents house on Monterey Street in Denison yesterday when they opened the front door a pit bull rushed in.
"As soon as the dog came in and went after my daughter my mother's little dog Stormy came running right out and jumped in the way and gave her life for Gracie." said Capshaw.
Jessica's sister, Janet Steward, says what happened next was horrifying. The pit bull ran out the door with Stormy still in its grasp.
"I chased it all the way down to our house and saw them open the back door and let their dog in with our dog in its mouth." said Steward.
"We beat on their door, my sister and my father beat on their door to get them to give us our dog back, but they would not respond." Capshaw said.
When the owners wouldn't answer the door, Jessica says they called the police.
"Officers went and talked to the owner and ultimately the chiuaua was found in the house deceased." said Lieutenant Mike Eppler.
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| RIP Stormy |
Lieutenant Mike Eppler says the dog was impounded, but soon given back to the owners because it didn't actually attack a person.
"The owner was issued 3 citations, one for dog running at large, one for no vaccination, and one for harboring a vicious animal and of course the owner will need to come to court and the judge will determine if it's a vicious animal." said Eppler.
Eppler says other neighborhood residents say they're afraid of the pit bull.
"Talked to some other witnesses, there was a neighbor that said that the same pit bull had jumped a fence into his yard and had attacked his dogs, and tried to get one of the dogs over the fence." Eppler said.
Janet says the dog should be put down, because things could have turned out much worse.
"This could be about my niece dead instead of our dog, or her severely hurt if it wasn't for my mom acting fast and Stormy jumping in the middle who knows what this would be." Steward said.
For now the pit bull is with the owner but Lieutenant Eppler says the case should go to court in about 10 days and a judge will determine the fate of the dog.
(KXII - Jan 4, 2012)
