“Everybody knows I love animals, big animal lover,” said Kim.
But she's missing one, her terrier mix Toto. Kim says nearly six months ago, Toto was attacked by a pit bull in her front yard. She says it was a nightmare.
“She was screaming like she was a person,” said Kim.
She immediately called 911. An officer with the City ofSpartanburg Animal Servicescame out and took the pit bull. Kim took Toto to the veterinarian. But a few days later she received more bad news.
“I didn't have a choice but to have her put to sleep,” said Kim.
It left the animal lover with an empty heart and a hefty bill. The vet bill for the days Toto equaled $700.
Kim was hoping the pit bull's owner would be held responsible. But she's still waiting. And that bill still hasn't been paid. Kim says she called Animal Services.
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| RIP Toto |
“I gave them time and called them around the end of March and said, ‘I haven't heard nothing. Did you forget about me? What's going on?’ And he said, ‘Well I haven't found her to serve her the papers but it's coming’,” said Kim.
Kim called again several more times. Now nearly six months later, she called 7 On Your Side for help.
We contacted Spartanburg Animal Services and an officer was able to track down the pit bull's owner that same day.
“We have charged this suspect with failure to keep the dog secured,” said Officer Mike Johnson, Animal Services Supervisor.
Johnson says the owner eluded them for months, not answering the phone, never home, even missing scheduled appointments with him.
“One thing was we had the wrong name for the person. We had talked with neighbors and we had talked with a gentleman who was a minor that was supposed to have been the child of the owner. And we had been given different names,” said Johnson.
The pit bull’s owner, Makisha Burris, is now headed to court on July 30th. Johnson says Burris could face a fine and/or jail time, if found guilty. If convicted, the judge would then decide on whether or not to award restitution.
Burris couldn’t be reached for comment. Animal Services tells us Burris never came to claim the pit bull, and it was put down.
(WSPA - July 11, 2012)
