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Pit bulls blamed in death of dog

Police said they found on the Pomeranian's neck and belly large bite marks consistent with those from a pit bull.

By ANNE LINDBERG
Published October 11, 2006

PINELLAS PARK - Sondra Ann Stabler was teaching her 4-year-old son his letters and numbers Friday when it happened.

"I heard a little yelp outside but didn't think anything about it," Stabler said.

About five minutes later, Stabler went outside to get Mikie, her Pomeranian.

"He's gone," Stabler said. "His collar's laying there and the leash."

So Stabler and her son, Michael, went looking. They did not find Mikie, but they ran into two pit bulls that followed them back to Stabler's home. Frightened, Stabler called the Pinellas Park police who sent an officer to investigate.

"He came back and told me that my dog was lying in (a neighbor's) yard. Dead," Stabler said, fighting off tears. Stabler asked if she should take Mikie to a vet, but the officer said, "No, he's gone."

Pinellas Park police Officer Bradley Serata, who found Mikie's body, described the scene in his report.

"I examined the dog's body and noticed the body had two large bite marks, one on the neck region and the other on the belly region," Serata wrote. "The bite marks appeared to be from a dog approximately the size of the two pit bulls described by Stabler."

For Stabler, it was clear what had happened. The pit bulls had "jerked him off his leash and broke his neck."

But for Craig Wilcox Jr., the pit bulls' owner, the facts are not as clear.

The Pomeranian, he said, must have broken his leash and come down to harass his dogs, Rita and Marley. Other dogs, Wilcox said, often attack pit bulls because they are afraid of them.

"My dogs are tougher and that's just how it went down," Wilcox said. If they had not been attacked by the smaller dog, nothing would have happened, he said, because "most of the time they try to run right up to you and play with you."

Stabler said that's ridiculous. Mikie, she said, was tied in her yard and was not strong enough to break free from his leash and collar. Also ridiculous, she said, is the thought that a 3- to 7-pound Pomeranian would try to attack two dogs that weigh four or five times more.

Wilcox also disputed the facts in the police report. He said the officer is "lying" to make the pit bulls look bad and to make Stabler feel better.

"Cops are basically racist toward pit bulls," Wilcox said. "They try to make the worst story possible."

Wilcox was not charged and he still has his dogs because, as Serata reported, "no one actually saw Wilcox's dogs kill Stabler's dog."

But an investigator from Pinellas County Animal Control did issue a $118 civil citation to Wilcox because Marley was not registered.

Wilcox said Marley's registration lapsed about a month ago.

Wilcox and his dogs have come to the attention of Animal Control before, said Linda Britland, an animal services field manager. Wilcox received a citation in February because Rita was not registered and had not had her vaccinations. Last year, someone reported being bitten by Rita.

Britland said a "dangerous dog" investigation has been initiated in connection with Mikie's death. If Rita, Marley, or both, are found to be dangerous, then they would have to be put to sleep unless a judge rules otherwise. It's unclear, she said, how long that could take. It depends on how fast the neighbors and others who may have evidence about the animals' behavior take in turning over information to Animal Services.

That could happen soon because Stabler said she is collecting statements from neighbors about the pit bulls.

Despite the dispute, Wilcox said he's sorry for what happened to Mikie and would like to make it up to Stabler, although he doubts that's possible.

Stabler said an apology would help. But it will not help her explain the situation to her son.

Michael had received a SpiderMan spray pistol shortly before Mikie was killed and when Stabler told her son the dog would not be coming back, he said, "Mommy, don't worry, I'll take my sprayer and spray Mikie and he'll come back alive."

[Last modified October 11, 2006, 06:54:17]