Pennsylvania: Pit bull put down after devastating attack on Pekingese, which killed him

PENNSYLVANIA -- Police had to shoot a pit bull during a vicious attack on another dog Saturday night in the Bywood section.

Percy, a Pekingese breed belonging to a township woman, died as a result of injuries.

“I’m just broken-hearted about my dog,” Donna Strattus said. “The injuries were too bad. The attack was awful. I witnessed the whole thing. On top of that, I had to witness police shooting the pit bull. I’m a dog lover, but I have a thing against pit bulls. We have too many in this neighborhood.”

Police received a report of a pit bull maiming and biting a small dog at about 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Bayard and Madeira roads.

RIP Percy

“Officer Michael Scott responded and saw a woman trying to pull the pit bull off her dog,” police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said. “The pit bull wouldn’t let go. Scott got out of his car and attempted to separate the two dogs, but couldn’t. The pit bull was out of control.

"For his safety and the safety of others, he shot the dog. He fired one shot and hit the pit bull in the left side. That pit bull was never domesticated. It was kept in the basement. The dog did not die from the gunshot wound. He was put down.”

According to Chitwood, Animal Control Officer Fred Eckman also responded to the call and told the owner of the black and white female pit bull named Shady he would have to put the dog down.

Percy was transported to Keystone Animal Hospital in Havertown for treatment of a bite wound on his head and numerous bites over his body. He later died.

“The pit bull was euthanized this morning,” Chitwood said Monday. “The owner of the dog was not charged because he agreed to put the dog down.”

Strattus was walking her dog on a leash when the pit bull charged and was not on a leash.

“That pit bull came running after my dog,” Strattus said. “I smacked him and I was screaming for help. It was so frustrating. I saw the dog coming towards us without a leash and nobody with the dog.

"I grabbed my dog and put him on top of a car, but the pit bull jumped up on top of the car and got my dog. He kept going. My dog got under the car and the pit bull kept going after him and pulling him out from under the car. He was shaking him like a rag doll. I’m just devastated.

"When the officer took out his gun to shoot the pit bull, he told everyone to stand away. I do understand why he had to shoot the pit bull. There were other people there, but nobody helped. I understand why they didn’t.

“I’m just devastated by the whole thing. On Saturday, I didn’t cry. Today, I can’t stop crying. They were going to operate on Percy, but he died before they could do anything.”

(The Delaware County Daily Times - Oct 21, 2014)