Stray pit bull charges into home, kills family dog

"I'm... trying to get this dog off of him. And, you know, he's just looking at me like, 'Help,' crying"

TENNESSEE -- Usually dog attacks happen outdoors, but a family was inside their home when they say a pit bull charged through the door and viciously attacked their beloved pet.

The father is thankful his children are OK, but he said they are still terrified because the dog remains on the run.

RIP Chuy

Michael Elliot had just come home from work and had his buddies by his side.

"We walked in the door," Elliot said. "Immediately, my wife and kids start screaming."

Out of nowhere, the pit bull came barreling in and headed straight for the family's Chihuahua.

"I'm sitting here trying to get this dog off of him. And, you know, he's just looking at me like, 'Help,' crying," Elliot said.

It took the man plus four of his friends to finally stop the attack, but by that time it was too late.

"I kind of treated him like a son, you know," Elliot said.

Chuy, the four-pound Chihuahua, was hurt so bad that a veterinarian had no choice but to put him down.

Elliot filed a police report and met with the property manager at his home.

But his main concern now is for his family, including two young children.

"It's just scary, and I don't want to live in fear," Elliot said.

The pit bull managed to escape after the attack, and it is still at large.

"If it went for the neck of one of my children, it would be done for. I mean, we'd be having a totally different conversation right now," Elliot said.

Police in Antioch went door-to-door, asking questions to neighbors, but so far nobody is claiming responsibility for the pit bull, described as brown and weighing about 100 pounds.

Elliot said he is hoping someone will see it, come forward and call police.

(WFIE - Nov 16, 2012)