Pitbulls attack dogs, returned to owner

PHOENIX - In the South Phoenix neighborhood around 37th Avenue and Apollo Road, some neighbors are on edge and even afraid to walk their dogs.

"They just ambushed us we didn't have a chance," said neighbor Jeremy Bourret.

A few blocks over his neighbor Kelly Boarder experienced a similar attack.

"They had locked jaws around him," she said. "I felt like they were trying to rip him in half."

The predators are two pitbulls who live in the neighborhood. Last week they got out and first hit Bourret's driveway where he was getting ready to take his Bichon poodle, Sahara, on a walk.

Bourret says the dogs started attacking Sahara the minute they got out of the front door.

"Sahara is in the air," he said. "The white and brown pitbull would not let go."

Bourret's dog suffered severe trauma and died two days later.

Then within hours of her attack, the pitbulls struck again blocks away on Boarder's driveway.

The South Phoenix woman was also heading out on a walk with her roommate's dog "Leroy" when the pitbulls attacked again.

"They were tearing him apart," she said. "One was pulling him by his neck the other was pulling him by the hind."

"Leroy," who is a pet therapy dog for Gabriel's Angels survived but is still in the hospital where his vet bills are now up to $10,000.

"Leroy is going to come home," said owner Karen Colville." But Sahara isn't coming home."

The sadness is also turning to anger.

Maricopa County Animal Control and Care picked up the pitbulls and cited the owner Maria Luna, but then to the dislike of the victims the county returned the dogs within hours.

The family, who lives on Apollo Road, refused to come out of their home when ABC15 knocked on the door.

They also wouldn't get out of their Hummer to explain how their dogs got loose or if they plan to compensate Bourret for his loss or Colville for her $10,000 in medical bills.

"They need to be responsible for their dogs," Boarder said.

The dog owners and others in the community want to see Fabien's Law enacted.

The proposed legislation in Arizona would hold dog owners criminally or civilly responsible if their dog attacked or killed another pet.

"You shouldn't be able to have dogs that are harming other dogs and potentially people," said neighbor Lastassia Eidson. "A slap on the wrist is not going to be enough."