Following fatal dog attack, city resident seeks answers, closure

CUMBERLAND — Vicki Rice experienced no idea as she ready to wander her miniature dachshund Corina on the afternoon of Feb. 13 that it would be the past stroll they would get.

“The weather conditions was so awesome,” explained Rice, who life in the 100 block of Seymour Avenue. “I thought possibly I’ll choose her in the backyard like we generally do. But I considered no, I’m heading to consider her for a stroll. I regret that now.”

Rice set the 6-pound canine on a leash and started up the sidewalk and crossed the road into a grass parklet.

Rice said she was about 30 yards from her dwelling when she appeared up to see a youthful boy, who she believed to be 8 or 9 yrs previous, with a pet dog she described as a pit bull. She straight away scooped Corina up into her arms and walked again across the avenue.

“The boy was sitting on that dog’s again,” Rice reported. “He was straddling the pet making an attempt to hold on to it. He said, ‘I got her. I received her.’ I stated, ‘I really don’t feel you do acquired her.’”

About that time, Rice claimed, the pit bull slipped its collar and ran toward Rice, sooner or later grabbing Corina in its jaws and thrashing and mauling the dachshund.

In 30 seconds Corina was dead, Rice claimed.

“I tried using to quit it and it would consider to chunk me,” Rice claimed. “The minimal boy is bawling striving to get the pet dog off of Corina. I attempted to do every little thing. I imagined, ‘I’m likely to get my hand little bit off.’”

Once the assault was above, the boy retrieved the pit bull and her collar and ran off expressing, “I have to tell my grandma,” according to Rice.

At that level, neighbors experienced appear out of their residences, officers with the Cumberland Police Section arrived, as did Jim Lee with Allegany County Animal Command, Rice claimed.

According to a police report, a look for was executed for “a smaller black juvenile with a gray and white pit bull.” The report explained an officer, “canvased the encompassing space in his patrol vehicle but did not observe any individual matching with a grey and white pit bull.”

Rice, and her son Branson, who picked the doggy out from a pet store 13 a long time ago, have been devastated given that the incident, with Vicki Rice declaring she has crying spells virtually each individual working day.

The assault was not the 1st on Corina. Rice said two pit bulls attacked and bit the dachshund in April 2020.

“They ran out from God is aware wherever,” Rice said.

Rice reported her family members has not read from anybody given that the dog’s dying, such as the operator of the attacking animal.

“I just want somebody to appear forward to take duty for that doggy and what they did to me that night time. I have had to go by means of it twice now. I pretty much dropped her the very first time since of that.”

All animal command problems, which include people that take place in the metropolis, are handled via Allegany County.

“When I bought there the puppy was in a box, deceased of training course,” Lee explained, adding he provided to have the pet dog cremated, which the Rices in the end agreed to.

“We get a good deal of phone calls about pit bulls and when we get there most of them aren’t pit bulls,” Lee reported. “I’ve experienced pretty minor difficulties with hazardous dogs in the location. The only point I do when I can uncover an proprietor of the doggy that did that hurt, I get them to quarantine the canine for 10 times and not to go off the assets. If so, they have to be on a leash and a muzzle.”

Lee reported each incident is distinctive.

“It’s all about the animal with us,” Lee claimed. “I really do not change the individuals. They have to be ready to cope with the pet dog.”

“It’s heartbreaking … pretty upsetting,” said Tina Rosa, executive director of the Allegany County Animal Shelter.

Rosa explained all canines are required to have a license and present-day rabies shots, which can be acquired by a veterinarian or the animal shelter.

“People need to have to be accountable with their pets,” she explained. “If you do have a doggy that is unruly or strong on the leash, really don’t allow a kid walk it. You can consider that dog to coaching to get them less complicated on the leash and those variety points. There are resources to assistance folks.”

According to the Facilities for Illness Manage and Avoidance, statistics collected among 2004 and 2020 exhibit pit bulls constantly rank No. 1 for bites/attacks, accounting for concerning 57{95b18eb6fc4f42efd0d92738dfc3fb79fde21da267a711ecdf0381147c27bb86} and 65{95b18eb6fc4f42efd0d92738dfc3fb79fde21da267a711ecdf0381147c27bb86} every year over the time period.

Scientific experiments, according to PitBullinfo.org, have established that the most prevalent brings about of lethal doggy assaults are preventable factors similar to irresponsible possession, abuse and/or neglect, failure to neuter canines and failure to adequately supervise big or strong pet dogs around infants and little ones.

Rice explained neighbors she has talked with are worried to wander their puppies in the neighborhood. Many have needed to get started a petition asking that pit bulls not be allowed inside of the town limitations.

“They never want to acquire their canine out anymore,” Rice claimed. “It’s as well harmful.”

Lee said when a puppy has brought about damages and the proprietor is recognized, in search of compensation is dealt with among the events or their attorneys.

“I do not want funds, but I would like another person to get duty,” Rice stated. “I do not want the very little boy to get in problems. But whoever enable him just take her out had no business carrying out it.

“An apology would be awesome,” Rice reported. “I want them to appear ahead. That was not appropriate. I don’t want this to see this come about to everyone.”