TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – A neighborhood in Tucson is on edge after a man’s dog was killed by loose neighborhood dogs. The incident occurred when Dwight Irwin was out walking his dog, Jack, in the Rita Ranch area.
A neighborhood in Tucson is on edge after a man’s dog was killed by loose neighborhood dogs.
“I dropped the mail, and I am laying four feet where they attacked my dog,” Irwin said. Unfortunately, Jack did not survive the attack.
This tragic event echoes a similar incident from 2009 involving Richard and Sally Andrade in Glendale. Their miniature poodle, Fabian, was killed by a neighbor’s dog. “I got a phone call from my wife saying Fabian was dead and that he was attacked and killed by a loose Pitbull,” Richard Andrade said.
The Andrades, who consider their pets as family, discovered limited legal recourse for holding negligent dog owners accountable. “The irresponsible owner is only going to get charged with a leash law, a $250 fine that was upsetting,” Andrade said.
In response, the Andrades successfully lobbied for “Fabian’s Law” in 2011, signed by former Gov. Janice Brewer. The law increases penalties for dog owners whose pets attack others. “We are the only state that has an aggressive dog law,” Andrade said.
Despite the law, the dogs involved in the recent incident in Rita Ranch have not been taken away, as Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) waits for the court to determine their status. “Since the dogs don’t have a history here in Pima County of being aggressive, per the law, no action can be taken until the court has given them a status of being aggressive dog,” PACC stated.
The Andrades continue to advocate for reporting aggressive dog behavior. “If a dog has a history and is aggressive, always encourage your neighbors to report that dog to PACC that way you build a record,” Andrade said.
For more information on Fabian’s Law or guidance on dealing with aggressive dogs, visit Fabian’s Law.
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