Black lab killed by pit bull | News

Donny Graiff’s evening stroll through his neighborhood with his black lab, Molly, ended in a vicious attack and the death of his beloved pet. Now he wants the pit bull responsible put to sleep.

The owner of the pit bull said despite what happened, his dog, Boss, doesn’t deserve to die.

Boss’s owner said the two dogs got tangled up in the lab’s leash, and that’s when the dogfight started. Other witnesses said, however, that as soon as the pit bull came out of the house where he lives, he took off down the street right after the lab. Several other neighbors ran to help not knowing right away which dog was on the attack.

“One of the women had a broom,” said Jessica MacMichael who witnessed the attack. “They came out and ran over, and the one with the broom started beating on top of the dogs.”

The pit bull’s owner said, “I’ve had him for over two years now. He’s never hurt another animal at all. He’s really pushy. Like in the house, if one of these little dogs are up on me, he’ll come and push them away. But he just nudges them, literally with his head. He doesn’t bite or nothing like that.”

But this time he did, biting Molly, who’s not much of a hunter but great at greeting the postman.

“That is a good dog,” said Marvilla Graiff, Donny’s mother. “Just sitting there at point and just watching. She’s gonna be missed.”

Animal control didn’t take Boss away because this was the first time he attacked another dog. But his owners have to put a sign in their window that reads: “Warning: Potentially dangerous dog on the premises.”

And Boss isn’t supposed to go off the property without a muzzle. He didn’t have one on Monday.

Muzzle or not, having Boss around the neighborhood still worries neighbors like MacMichael.

“It’s important to be able to control your dogs,” she said. “If you can’t control them then they’re a threat. Especially that type of dog. The type of dog that has such a bad rap it’s really important that you’re able to control them and train them so they don’t hurt someone.”

Boss’s owner paid the vet bill for the lab to be put down. He said he realizes no amount of money can fix what happened. But he said he loves his dog, just like the other family loved theirs, and Boss shouldn’t be put to sleep just for fighting.