Livingston: Why are large dogs allowed in our small subdivisions?

On Saturday, Nov 1, 2008, my precious 2-½ yr old, 7 lb., longhaired Chihuahua, Chico, was mauled to death by two 125 lb. dogs in one of the empty lots of the KB development of Desert Passage.

We have two beloved Chihuahuas and a domestic cat for pets. They do a great job of keeping my husband company while I’m at work. Well, Saturday morning around 8:15 a.m. we had a tragedy. Those who love their pets I’m sure will sympathize with us.

Two dogs took our Chico some how from our backyard. They abused and mauled him. I heard them barking and looked in the backyard, and Chico was gone. I ran through the house as fast as I could, and the dogs had him on the ground biting at him. I stood like a mother bear over Chico to try to pick him up. The dogs would not let me do this and bit my thumb when I tried. I screamed for someone to help me, and people started to call 911.A wonderful neighbor with landscapers heard my screams, as the dogs would not let me pick Chico up. These wonderful gentlemen had long metal pipes that they used to get the dogs away from me so I could pick up Chico. I know he was alive when I picked him up and cradled him in my arms.

My son David started to drive me to the vet with Chico all wrapped up in a warm towel and being cradled in my arms when the police came. We had to stop to talk to them. They were very nice. Of course, our only wish at the time was to get Chico to the vet ASAP. The EMS guys came and looked at my thumb and said I needed to get to urgent care. One of them also, so sweetly, put the stethoscope to Chico to check his heart and shook his head and said how sorry he was. Poor David and I both broke down in the middle of the street and just sobbed over our loss. I know that Chico died in my arms, comforted, blanketed in a warm towel and no longer in pain.

We took Chico to the vet where he will be cremated. They are so sweet to make a small plaster paperweight with his paw print in it.

Chico was such a sweet longhaired Chihuahua who was born without a tail but that didn’t stop him from being a loving sweet dog whose worst trait was to give too many kisses. When we adopted one of the Tuscan 800 rescue Chihuahuas, Chico welcomed him like a little brother. Max followed him everywhere. Where one went, the other followed. He still is looking around when I say “outside?” They never went out without the other. I’m sure he is wondering where Chico is.

David took me to urgent care where I got three stitches in my thumb. The doctor was sweet and kept saying how the numbing shot would hurt, but I didn’t care. Nothing could hurt more than we were already hurting.

David was very angry that someone could be so careless as to let dogs even take a chance to be to get out of their yard. No dog (or person) deserves that kind of abuse, especially by two 125 lb. dogs against the sweetest 7 lb. Chihuahua. .

The owner of the dogs came by yesterday and sincerely apologized. We accepted his apology, though with some difficulty. He informed us that the dogs had been left in his backyard and when he went to the grocery, somehow they got out. He said he normally would crate them, so why didn’t he do it this time? Animal Control said he thought it was a nice day to leave them out. We found out later also that the dogs had jumped against our gate so hard that the latch came undone. That is how they got Chico. He also said he is going to authorize animal control to put the dogs down. I don’t believe in suing someone, but nothing can help us with the grief we are feeling over the loss of our innocent little Chico.

Our subdivisions have small yards that are too small for large dogs much less more than one. Any size dogs should not be allowed to left in those yards when no one is home. Homeowners need to be more responsible in the care of their dogs. Imagine if that had been a small child instead of a little Chihuahua. We have children that play in the playgrounds and green belts. They are vulnerable to these dogs even if the dogs “accidently” get out. It does not change the outcome.

Photo courtesy of Carolyn Livingston