Lapeer County Michigan Circuit Judge Nick O. Holowka turns killer pit bull mix back out into society

MICHIGAN -- Lefty the dog will live.

Just not at his home in Lapeer Township.

Lapeer County Circuit Judge Nick O. Holowka saved the pit bull-lab mix from death Friday, July 10, as part of an appeal by the dog's owners after Lefty was ordered to be euthanized following a dog fight that killed a neighbor's dog.

When this dog kills again, you can thank Lapeer County Judge
Nick O. Holowaka

Holowka ordered the dog be placed at an animal rescue for pit bulls.

"I didn't want him put down," said Lefty's owner, Connie Wojciechowski. "I'll get with my lawyer and find a suitable rescue. Now we have to tell our nine grandkids their dog won't be home."

Lefty was previously ordered to be put down because his owners violated a court order that mandated the dog be on a leash whenever he was outside following a dog fight that left another dog dead, according to court testimony today.

Since the death sentence, the 9-year-old, 50-pound dog has been in the Lapeer County Animal Shelter for six months, Wojciechowski said.

"This court clearly recognizes that no matter how it rules not everyone will be satisfied," Holowka said. "This court believes that this is a fair alternative."

Wojciechowski failed to comply with the court's orders back in 2014.
Yet she demanded that her vicious dog not be euthanized and blamed
the victims for their dogs' deaths.

The owners of the dog that died could not be reached for comment Friday.

In 2014, Lefty was designated a dangerous animal by Lapeer County court.

Wojciechowski was ordered to have the dog on a leash and accompanied by an adult whenever it was outside – even if it was in its own yard – following a fight with Lefty and a neighbor's dog on Wojciechowski's property.

The dog later died of its injuries.

Connie Wojciechowski said her property has an electric fence.

A Facebook page in support of saving Lefty had nearly 4,000 likes.

On her petition to "save" the killer pit bull, Wojciechowski writes:

"lefty has been a great family pet for 7 yrs.  He is loved by his owners, their 5 children and their 8 grandchildren.  He is being put down for the negligence of neighbors who chose not to license, or contain their pets and allowed them to roam on our property and attack lefty on 5 separate occasions.  during two of those attacks one in 2011 and 2014 the neighbor dogs died from the pet owners not getting prompt medical  care for their pets.  why should lefty be taken away from his family and put down because of the neighbors neglect?"

This is the second high-profile dog case in Lapeer County in the last year.

Sebastiano Quagliata and Valbona Lucaj face up to 15 years in prison as part of a plea deal after their two Cane Corso dogs mauled and killed a jogger, Craig Sytsma.

(MLive - July 10, 2015)