On Thursday night (June 7) about 8 or 8:30 p.m. on the walking path along the power lines between Mesquite and Elliott Roads, my precious little Chihuahua-mix, Sugar, was attacked and killed by two large, unattended dogs. They had collars and were clearly domesticated. Sugar was a sweet and lovable reddish-brown dog who loved kids.
It was our daily routine to walk the Paula Zanni Field and visit and share treats with several other dogs who lived along the yards backing up to the field. She also loved to visit with the children at Finley Farms Elementary school when the were outside playing. They would come to the fence and pet her, and she would lick their hands and dance around for them. Many, as soon as they saw her, would shout her name, so she would come over to see them.
Thursday night, walking Sugar on her leash, two large dogs — unleashed — suddenly came out of the stone area along the power lines and attacked her, biting and pouncing on her. I fended them off, kicking and punching them and putting myself over her tiny body, before I could get to my feet, running home to rush her to the Emergency Animal Clinic on Juniper Avenue. There, they told me she was gone, she had bite marks & broken ribs, and probably died immediately do to the loss of blood, that I first realized was all over me.
One dog I believe was white, with a brownish head, the other I believe was all brown, and both near 40 to 50 pounds or larger.
I don’t know if someone in some type of vehicle was calling to the unleashed dogs. Before the attack, I saw some type of light and heard calling from the horse path down near Elliott.
I have posted signs along both sides of this stretch of the pathway, with her picture and a warning so others won’t go through the same heartbreak. It also asks for dog owners to be responsible, keep their dogs on a leash, and make sure this doesn’t happen again.
I also want to thank the staff that night at the emergency hospital who comforted my wife and I at that terrible time.
Also “thanks” to Officer C. Potter of the Gilbert Police Department for his assistance both at the clinic and going to the area to see if he could find anything.
Pets become a part of your family, you love them and treat them good and they love you back.
We love and miss you Sugar, and know your bring happiness to others in “doggie heaven.”
Bob and Sharon Yormick
Gilbert
Dale Whiting posted at 7:23 am on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
Why not ID the dogs and sue their owners?
Arizona Willie posted at 7:33 am on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
You can blame your dog's demise on the " no tax idiots " who prevent cities from having enough money to have animal control officers picking up loose animals.
Every Arizona city is plagued by loose dogs and feral cats, but the cities have no money.
Your story is one good reason people should be armed when walking small pets. The wrong dog died.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 8:24 am on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
Sadly, we see this same thing going on with the Salt River Horse herd argument. The truely, wild, native indigenous species...the Desert Big Horn sheep and the Desert Mule deer are attacked by feral, stray horses, burros and donkeys when they go for water along the River or at springs and seeps. The Desert Big Horn sheep and Desert Mule deer are also attacked by feral, stray horses, burros, and donkeys when they look for food in our Desert's meager drought-ravaged environment. But try to explain this to the "Wild-Horse Annies" of this World just like your would try to explain to pet owners to secure their pets at all times.
GO TO WAL-MART AND GET SOME "BEAR SPRAY" AND SPRAY ANY ATTACKING DOGS WITHING 10 FEET OF YOUR LEASHED PET. I DID WHEN I WALKED MY MOM'S MINITURE POODLE, LOUIE, IN OUR PARK. ONCE SPRAYED....THESE LOOSE DOGS WOULD RUN THE OTHER WAY WHEN THEY SAW ME...........LOL.
chatmandu002 posted at 11:04 am on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
Bob and Sharon,
I am sorry for your loss. I find that people of low moral and selfish character need these vicious animals to inflate their ego.
Engaged Voter posted at 5:47 pm on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
Strange that Animal Control lacks the funds to go after stray dogs - a threat not only to pets, but to children as well - but somehow HAS the funds to harrass my neighbor because his ducks are too loud. (yes, you read that right - Animal Control can't go after feral dogs, but won't hesitate to prosecute quacking ducks!)
Engaged Voter posted at 5:49 pm on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
Poor, poor Leon...well, at least he didn't mention Hitler this time~
sockratties posted at 8:48 am on Sat, Jun 16, 2012.
EV -- leon is enraged because the feral horses have immigrated to the riverside illegally and an illegal immigrant is illegal not matter what the species and they may even be COMMUNIST ILLEGAL ALIEN AMNESTY DEMOCRAT ACTIVIST feral stray horses, burros and donkeys.
Dale -- more proof of your home schooling and on-line degree. Looks like you missed reading comprehension.
chuckles3 posted at 8:16 am on Tue, Jun 19, 2012.
First, I am sorry for your loss. Our two dogs are like family to us.
Second, can you arses leave Politics out of anything? One of the first things I noticed when I moved here was the stray dogs...some with collars, some without....almost never any ID tags. $5 for an ID tag. Seriously.
My wife and I have captured several and in some cases found the owners, some cases paired them with rescue groups, and in some, sadly, had to call animal control. Dogs that act like these two are usually the result of bad owners and have to be put down.
A sad reality, a lot of people are not equipped to be good pet owners, let alone parents.