South Nashville neighborhood on edge after pit bull attacks

TENNESSEE -- A south Nashville neighborhood is on edge after two pit bulls were reportedly going from house to house terrorizing other dogs, their owners and even police when they arrived.

The two pit bulls have since been euthanized, and you would think that would help ease neighbors' minds, but several say they are concerned about more vicious dogs living next door.

Just after the bus dropped off children from school on Wednesday, animal control officers pulled up to the home to investigate allegations of dog fighting.

A 13-pound Shih Tzu was in his fenced-in yard last week when he was attacked by two pit bulls.

  

"They were digging all over in here trying to get in because there were four dogs in this yard," said neighbor Dawn LeBlond.

Even without getting through the fence, they still got ahold of Jack.

"He had cuts from the middle of his chest all the way up to his back across his neck where they were trying to get into his neck," said neighbor Dawn LeBlond.

Jack's owner came out with sticks jabbing the pit bulls to get Jack, but in the process, they bit her hand.

"These dogs were acting like wild pack kill animals; they were out to hurt whatever they could," LeBlond said.

Police responded and animal control came and took the dogs.

Neighbors are still worried after hearing allegations of dogs being bred to fight.

"There is a gentleman that lives right around the corner who is a retired police officer and he's the one that told us that it has been under suspicion," LeBlond said.

Animal control said they investigated those claims when the attack happened and then again on Wednesday.

The officer said both times there was no evidence of dog fighting or abuse. The only time they had been out there before the attack was for nuisance barking in 2008.

But even knowing this, neighbors are scared.

"I can't tell you ... I have heard at least three or four separate conversations where the topic of maybe we need to get a gun comes up. Everyone feels they need to protect themselves because we are not safe in our own neighborhood," LeBlond said.

Animal control said they will continue investigating these allegations but want the neighborhood's help by calling them if they see or hear anything suspicious coming from the house.

(WSMV Nashville - Nov 12, 2015)