Norma Brown said her dog, Cookie, a Shih Tzu mixed-breed, died in her sleep early Tuesday morning at Geary Veterinary Clinic, where she was being treated following the brutal attack.
"She was a fighter. I thought maybe Cookie would pull through, but she didn't," said Brown in a tear strained voice soon after she heard the news of her pet's passing.
The little dog had sustained severe injuries following an attack by a stray pit bull within the 500 block of Decatur Avenue. Police said the little dog's left side has been torn open. One of the pit bull's teeth was removed by the vet from Cookie's rib cage.
Brown said she knew the dog's prognosis was grim, so she was cautiously optimistic. The vet kept gave her updates throughout Monday evening, she said.
"The dog was stable and sleeping at around 11 p.m. last night," she said. "She died early this morning (Tuesday). I miss my dog, but if she had lived, she would have been in a lot of pain."
Brown recalled how much she and everyone in her neighborhood loved Cookie and were going to miss her. She'd cared for Cookie since the little dog was a puppy 10 years ago. Brown said it was too soon to know what her next step would be. The only thing that Brown knew for certain is that she "loved Cookie and will miss her very much."
Connellsville police Chief James Capitos said he spoke with Brown early Tuesday and expressed his condolences for her loss.
As to the pit bull that attacked and mortally wounded Cookie, that dog was shot four times before it was killed by Connellsville police. Police said the dog appeared to be dangerous, so they didn't want to take any chances.
Capitos said the pit bull's owner has not come forward. He said police are still following up on leads about the young girl who was walking the dog prior to the attack.
Brown said the girl was trying to find the pit bull's owner when the incident occurred. She said the dog had a collar but no tags.
Capitos said the police are continuing their investigation.
(Uniontown Herald Standard - Jul 14, 2015)
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