Westwood woman speaks out after her service dog was killed by a neighbor's pit bull
A Westwood woman is speaking out after her support dog was killed by an off-leash pit bull.
That pit bull still with its owner.
On March 18, Royal Turner says she called 911 for help when a neighbor's pit bull got out and began attacking her Yorkie.
"He was my baby," said Turner.
She says she'd taken her dog Chosen on a walk, and this all unfolded as they were returning to her apartment complex.
"This was gutwrenching. This was the worst pain," Turner said.
According to the police report, the pit bull "mauled" Chosen to death.
"The pit bull had my dog in his mouth for a whole 45 minutes," she said.
The deputy dog warden on scene advised officers to designate the Pitbull as "dangerous."
Ohio Law requires this designation to be issued when a dog kills another dog.
In this case, officials are allowing the pit bull to remain with its owner.
"I thought they would at least remove the dog quarantine for 10 days, decide what they were going to do next," Turner said.
Hamilton County's chief dog warden, Beth Ward, was asked about their process.
"If we feel that there is a safety concern, then we will remove the dog while we're doing the investigation. If we feel like this is maybe a one-time incident, then we will keep the dog in the control of the owner. But they have to follow the same guidelines as if it was already deemed dangerous or vicious by a judge," Ward said.
The deputy dog warden did issue the pit bull's owner multiple citations, including a dangerous dog citation and a packet instructing him on the rules.
This decision will go before a judge to decide if they agree with that designation.