The man, Nicholas Hare, says he and his girlfriend Michal Nelson took pride in caring for their animals and says the mauling shouldn't sway people's opinions about the breed.
With tears in his eyes, Hare pointed to a photo of Nelson and said, “that was my beautiful, lovely lady.”
It’s hard for him to talk about, but Hare says he wants people to know that his girlfriend, Nelson, lived to help animals.
“Michal had such love in her heart for every one of God's creatures,” said Hare.
Nelson was killed by her own pit bull Friday night. The Valencia County Sheriff's Department says Nelson was mauled in her own yard when trying to break ice-water out of a dog bowl.
Nelson’s son found her body at the scene and the dog that attacked nearby. Deputies say he then shot and killed the dog.
“This was something that came completely out of left field and it was ... it was her time as horrible and tragic as it was, it was,” said Hare.
Deputies say four other pit bulls were surrendered from the property and have since been euthanized.
According to Hare, he and Nelson had possession of the dogs for about the last four years. Hare says the dogs were from various litters and homes.
"It's really hard to lose five family members in one day basically, because they were our children for years and years,” said Hare.
Hare says he was in a relationship with Nelson for the last 15 years. In that time, Hare says the two raised more than 300 animals on their property, not for profit or under the name of any rescue, but out of their own desire.
“We did it together because it what's made our family strong,” said Hare.
Deputies have confirmed all the animals on the property were healthy and showed no signs of abuse. Hare says the incident is an unexpected tragedy.
“There was nobody happier in this world. She could brighten anybody's day and she always did.
Didn't matter who it was, somebody could be having the worst day and she would just make them smile and they would never forget it,” said Hare.
Hare says the family is now planning a memorial service for Michal, but is having a hard time paying for it. They’ve set up a donation account at Wells Fargo called the Michal Nelson Memorial Fund.
The Valencia County Sheriff's Department says at this point, no criminal charges are likely against Hare or any other family members involved.
(KRQE - Dec 16, 2013)
Earlier:
FREAK ACCIDENT!
ReplyDeleteBWA-HAHAHAHAHA
How does something that happens repeatedly, in the same way, by the same perpetrators qualify as a freak accident? These are predictable events.
ReplyDelete