Don Bianan said he cannot stop mentally replaying the scene after he saw his dog mauled to death.
“And all I can hear is that yelp,” Bianan told Channel 2’s Eric Philips.
Bianan said he regularly walked his 10-month-old miniature dachshund, Elli, along the trail near the Lindbergh MARTA station. He said he was walking her Wednesday evening when he tripped and fell, momentarily letting go of her leash.
He said he called Elli, but she had gotten out of his reach and into danger. A white Boxer, which wasn't wearing a leash, was playing catch with its owner. Atlanta's leash law requires dogs to be on a leash in public, in a park or on a trail.
When Elli got close to them, the boxer bit down. Bianan said he tried to save his puppy but was bitten in the process.
“I actually pulled the mouth away from the dog and once I did, blood squirted everywhere and it punctured her heart right in two,” he told Philips.
He said he was holding onto her, trying to press the wound down, when the other dog owner disappeared.
“He up and left,” Bianan said.
Moments later, Bianan realized his cellphone was also gone. Police believe the boxer's owner took that before he vanished with his dog. The phone was later traced to Buford Highway before the signal ended.
“I just wish that he could've helped me instead of running away,” Bianan said.
Elli was cremated on Thursday. Police are still looking for the owner of the other dog. They said he may have left in a tan or gold SUV, possibly a Jeep Cherokee. Anyone with information is asked to call Atlanta Crimestoppers at 404-577-84-77. Callers can remain anonymous.
(WSBTV - Feb 10, 2012)
