M-D Animal Service Investigating Beagle Attack

MIAMI (CBS4) - CBS4 has learned the Miami-Dade Animal Services Department is investigating a Miami dog owner for the fourth time in two and a half years after a claim that two of his dogs attacked a two year-old beagle.

That beagle named Bella is now fighting for her life, while being treated at the Cabrera Animal Hospital.

"It breaks my heart to see Bella like this," said the Beagle's owner, Giovanna Gonzalez. "To see my kids, they are devastated."

Cabrera Animal Hospital veterinarian, Dr. Glenda Paredes, told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that Bella has "multiple bite wounds in her chest and abdomen. She has a tear in her abdominal area. This is heartbreaking. She is in a lot of pain. She is really scared. She is traumatized."

Gonzalez told D'Oench the attack happened Wednesday morning as she was talking two of her children to a bus stop in her Miami neighborhood.

"These two dogs opened up this fence and came after us," she said. "My dog got in the middle of the kids and one of the dogs got my dog by the neck, the other one from the back. And they started shaking her and my kids started screaming."

"It was terrible what happened to her," said Gonzalez. "We adopted her one year ago yesterday. We took care of her. She was probably hurt by someone before. We saved her and now this dog nearly killed her."

The other dogs are owned by a neighbor who lives three houses away from her.

That neighbor, Candido Garcia, admitted to D'Oench that his dogs did get out. "The dogs opened the door of the front gate. The American Bulldog attacked the beagle. That's it."

Garcia said his three-year-old, female American Bulldog had been getting aggressive lately and had recently killed a cat. So he told D'Oench he took the dog to a veterinarian in Broward to have her euthanized shortly after this morning's incident.

"I had it euthanized. I took it to the vet and had it euthanized," Garcia said. "She's been with me three years but she's been getting aggressive. Nobody wins in this situation. There's nothing I could do. But if she does it again. And I feel terrible. She used to play with that dog."

Garcia said his Rottweiler named Zeus did not attack the Beagle, "He just followed her; she was the leader."

But Kathleen Labrada, a spokeswoman for Miami-Dade Animal Services, told D'Oench that a report indicates that Garcia did not witness the attack; and the agency wants to know if the Rottweiler was actually part of the attack and if Garcia can produce paperwork proving he had the American bulldog euthanized.

Gonzalez told D'Oench "The Rottweiler grabbed my beagle by the neck and the other dog that he put to sleep grabbed her by the legs. And they were shaking my dog at the same time."

The Animal Services spokeswoman told D'Oench that the agency has investigated Garcia three other times in the past two and half years. She said in March of 2008 he was fined for illegally possessing a pit bull, which he got rid of. In October of 2008, Garcia was fined again for having another pit bull, which he also removed from the property.

Labrada added he was also investigated in August of 2009 for having a pit bull but that complaint could not be substantiated.

She said the agency has launched a dangerous dog investigation. She said Garcia could be fined $150 for each dog "running at large" and $500 for each dog that causes "severe injury or death."

The prognosis for Bella is guarded, according to Dr. Parades. Her first operation occurred Wednesday afternoon because of her abdominal tears. Bella will be at the Animal Hospital for up to 7 days.

Gonzalez told D'Oench that Garcia offered her $300 towards Bella's care. But she said Bella's bill could be much higher than that and said right now, the immediate concern was whether Bella can survive the treatment she needs.

"I also think Mr. Garcia should get rid of his Rottweiler," said Gonzalez. "This guy has been warned before and no one did anything about it. Today it was my dog. Tomorrow, it could be someone else's kids."