Ashley Dial isn't looking for money. And she is not too concerned with pressing charges. But she does want the pit bull mix that attacked her and her 4-year-old Chihuahua put down so this never happens to anyone else.
Her dog, "BB," was a gift Ashley received from her sister-in-law, Teresa Fugate, when Ashley returned home from active duty in Iraq.
"It was something to be excited about. I was excited for months while I was there. It was that one thing I was looking forward to having," Ashley recalled.
But then she was attacked.
"It was the worst thing I've ever been through. I've been to Iraq; I've done things. And it was horrible. She was my little girl. I took her everywhere with me."
Late Saturday night, Ashley, Teresa and BB hopped into Ashley's car and drove to the Tonawanda Indian Reservation for gas and cigarettes. When they got to the Arrowhawk gas station, they saw two dogs - one a pit bull mix - roaming the parking lot unleashed. But the dogs didn't appear to be bothering anyone.
Ashley had just finished pumping gas and was opening her car door to grab her wallet when she says the dog bolted inside and attacked. Ashley desperately tried to pry the pit bull mix's mouth open, and get it to release BB.
"We couldn't get him off. We tried so hard. And I broke my fingers trying to get his mouth open and we couldn't," Ashley said. "It just was unimaginable. I couldn't explain in words how exactly I felt inside. I just wanted to get her to a hospital, but she was already dead. I couldn't do anything."
Teresa did all she could to help.
"That was my present for her. When she came back from Iraq. She fought for our country and did her duty. And that was her gift. That was like her kid because she doesn't have children," Teresa aid.
Someone at the gas station knew the dog's owner and called him. The owner came to the gas station and at first, Ashley says they argued. But then he even offered to put his dog down. Ashley hopes he follows through before this story repeats itself.
"I wish he would. I feel like his dog should not live and kill another dog," Ashley said.
A chief deputy at the Genesee County Sheriff's Office tells News 4 they received a call earlier about this dog roaming loose. But on the reservation, there is no such thing as a stray dog, and there is not a lot deputies can do because it's possible no crime was committed.
Deputies say the only possibility may be civil action. But Ashley doesn't sound interested in that.
"I truthfully don't think anything will happen," Ashley said. "The only thing I would ask to happen is that dog be put down. I don't anyone else to go through what we went through."
Workers at the Arrowhawk gas station where the incident occurred say they are heartbroken for Ashley. They have videotape of the attack and say they will cooperate with law enforcement if there is anything further is pursued.
(WIVB - June 17, 2013)
