Name: MMC
Victim: Pet
Location: Residential street, South Carolina
Year of attack: 2021

Tell us about the attack

My 14-year-old granddaughter was walking Gracie, my Bichon Frise, down a street near her home in a residential neighborhood. Gracie was wearing a harness and was leashed. We were out of town. A repeat-offender pit bull charged out of a home and killed our beloved little dog. Gracie was so loved and as a retired couple she was our life. My granddaughter is so traumatized and thankfully she froze and was not injured.

This pit bull owners were well aware that the pit bull was vicious. They told neighbors it was fighting with their second pit bull and they had even posted on the neighborhood Facebook page to rehome this dangerous pit bull. Why you would keep a dangerous vicious pit bull in a neighborhood full of children and pets is incomprehensible. These are irresponsible and neglectful owners.

How has your life changed as a result of the attack?
We are both suffering and are just trying to make it through each day. Gracie was our whole world. Our daily routine totally revolved around her. We still cannot comprehend how this could even happen to us. My granddaughter is in counseling and we are going to start also. As life long pet owners we have lost dogs before. Nothing compares to this horrific way to lose a cherished pet.  A tragedy that could have been averted.

Legal Consequences

The laws here in SC are abysmal for a dog attack. $200 fine for the first offense and they do not even require euthanasia of the dangerous dog. These pit bull owners were fined $1000 because apparently this was a second offense. [Ed: the fine money goes to the government, not the victims.]

What would you like people to know as a result of your attack?
I would like people to be more aware of the presence of a dangerous dog. Although we had walked down this street hundreds of times we had no idea this pit bull was in a home. If you have a dangerous dog there should be signage outside your home. I would also like to see more punishment for negligent pet owners.