After returning home from work on April 18, Bernie R. was in his Marquez Knolls backyard, reading his mail, when he heard a ruckus coming from the front of his house. As he went around the side to investigate, he saw his six-year-old Doberman, Zeke, under attack by two pit bulls. Bernie’s property is surrounded by a wrought-iron fence and gated, but the two dogs broke in through a front gate to gain access to the yard. ‘They jumped on my dog and started tearing him apart,’ said Bernie, who requested that his last name be withheld. He tried to pull the dogs off, but neither pit bull had a leash or a collar. He kicked at one dog, which turned from Zeke and attacked Bernie. The homeowner grabbed a wooden patio chair and started hitting the dog; when the chair broke, Bernie grabbed a second chair to defend himself, and it also broke. Then he threw a ceramic basin at the dogs, which allowed Zeke a momentary escape. The smaller of the pit bulls, which Bernie estimated to be about 70 pounds, ran off. But the larger one, close to 100 pounds, ran after Zeke. Bernie ran into the house for a stick and a hammer, ran back outside and forced the larger dog off Zeke, then chased the pit bull into the street. He saw his neighbor, who was taking her baby out of the car, and asked her to call the police. Another neighbor, alarmed by the tremendous racket, had already called 911. Bernie followed the pit bull into a cul de sac to see if it was going home, but also to make sure nobody would be hurt. A UPS truck was parked in the cul de sac with a door open. Conveniently, the dog jumped into the truck and Bernie slammed the door shut, then waited for the police. Once officers arrived and Animal Control had taken away the larger pit bull, Bernie drove his dog to a local veterinarian, who advised him that Zeke needed to be taken to an emergency facility. At the animal hospital, Bernie was told that Zeke needed to be put down because he had serious puncture wounds on his head, neck and back. His lung cavity had also been punctured. ‘He was the sweetest dog in the world,’ Bernie said. ‘He got along with other dogs and kids. He was affectionate and friendly to a fault. ‘I was pretty much an emotional mess and so was my wife,’ he added. As far as Bernie knows the small pit bull has been euthanized and he’s not sure about the status of the larger one, which was in Animal Control custody. ‘My understanding is that the landlord has told the renters that they had to put the dogs down,’ Bernie said.
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