Last Thursday, Achilles, a dark brown pit bull with a streak of white fur running down his chest, attacked and killed Wright's father.
"I just got home from work. I live with my father. I take care of him. He's there on the front porch. It looks like my dog got him, for whatever reason. I don't f***ing know what happened!" Wright, 27, screamed to a 911 operator.
In tapes obtained by NBC affiliate KOB.com, Wright becomes increasingly frantic as he describes his 74-year-old dad.
“They can't save him, dude,” Wright tells the dispatcher. “He's got a hole, there's blood! He's gone, dude! My dad is torn up with flies on him."
Police told msnbc.com an ambulance was dispatched to the Wright residence, but Clifford Wright wasn't able to be revived. Police also took Achilles, who vets estimated to be about 4 years old, into quarantine. They allowed Wright to keep the three other dogs he has as pets at home.
A couple days later, while Santa Fe animal control officers evaluated Achilles, a preliminary medical examiner's report was released on Clifford Wright.
"The elder Wright was bitten by a single dog and he succumbed to his injuries because of those bites," Santa Fe public information officer Lt. Louis Carlos told msnbc.com. "He did not have a medical condition that was a factor in his demise. People were speculating that he might have had a heart attack, or a seizure beforehand, but none of that was true."
Evidence found at the scene on Achilles also confirmed he, not the other dogs, had mauled Clifford, Carlos said. With no witnesses, it's unclear what provoked the dog, who isn't neutered, to suddenly attack.
Santa Fe police have been called to Wright's home before about his dogs: once in 2005, when another dog bit Clifford, and once in 2011, when a female pit bull was reported running at large.
Gavin Wright, who Carlos described as "visibly upset" and shocked, could not be reached by msnbc.com. On Friday, Santa Fe police explained to Wright what his options for Achilles were. He could keep him and risk the community's safety, with the knowledge that police would actively seek to have Achilles taken into custody and ultimately euthanized, or he could say goodbye to Achilles now.
If he chose the latter, all citations would be forgiven.
"Our position was not to add to the stressors to him and his family," Carlos said. "That was why we agreed to sit down and talk with him ... and let him decide which route he was going to take."
Wright took the weekend to think it over. Achilles hadn't lashed out again since he was in quarantine, but the Santa Fe police department described his demeanor as "concerning" and "freaky": He didn't wag his tail when experts came in to inspect him, Carlos said, and he wouldn't prick his ears up.
"He would just stare. He wouldn't even turn his head. He would just move his eyes," Carlos said.
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| This was Achilles, the pit bull that killed its owner, 74-year-old Clifford Wright, earlier this month. The dog was euthanized (photo: Santa Fe Police Dept) |
On Tuesday, Wright made his decision to euthanize Achilles.
"What was a turning point for Gavin was when I explained the injuries his father sustained, and the manner in which he was killed," Carlos said. "After that, he agreed to surrender the dog."
Wright was allowed to go see -- but not touch -- Achilles one final time. He spoke his last words to Achilles, cage bars separating them, on Tuesday immediately after he had decided to euthanize him, Carlos said. He chose to cremate Achilles and keep his ashes.
"His words to me were 'This is it, it's over,'" Carlos told msnbc.com. "He's finding closure on all this. He's thanked me several times. He was a little somber after saying his goodbye."
(KSEE - May 9, 2012)
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