[LuvMyYorkies]

Thank you all for your prayers and emotional support. Words cannot express the pain we are feeling, but we also feel the strength given to us through your prayers. Bella is still in a great deal of pain and takes strong pain medication twice a day. We have to hand feed her, otherwise she will not eat. On Tuesday morning, I had to go to Animal Control to talk with the Supervisor who picked up “Precious” and retrieved Sissy’s body. He explained to me what my rights were, and what the process will be in the coming months. The hearing will not be held until January because of the holidays. He feels strongly that there will be a hearing, because the owner, although she has expressed “sorrow” is not welling to surrender her dog to animal control. Because this is “Precious’” first offense, it is very likely that the full commission will allow the dog to go back to her owners, with strict restrictions (whatever that means). This dog knows where my back yard is, and unbeknownst to us, was in our yard the Thursday before where she attacked my daughter’s dog. Shiloh is a beagle mix, and was able to fight the dog off; however, she licked her wounds clean and though she had blood on her bed and on the floor, we did not see the wounds because she would not let us touch her leg. My daughter and son-in-law came over as soon as they got back in town Sunday evening, and found the puncture wounds on her chest, her inner thigh, her left ear, and right rear leg. They took her to the vet Monday and after the vet shaved the area where she was bit, were able to see all the damage done.

Animal Control told me that we are entitled to have our vet bills paid (so far over $2,000), pain and suffering (priceless), replace costs for Sissy (priceless) and other expenses involved with the attack. That would include mileage to the vet (4 trips at 60 miles round trip so far) and the cost of cremation. They let me have one last look at Sissy, allowing me to spend as much time as I needed to pet her head and pat her body. They had her wrapped in a pink towel with just her head and front paws exposed. I will never forget the fear and horror frozen on her little face, and the fear on Bella’s face as she crawled up the stairs of the deck. Bella was covered with blood, and her right side was quivering in pain.

We are having Sissy cremated so that we can keep her here at home with us forever. The Supervisor plans to call the police officer and myself as witnesses at the hearing, as well as have pictures available of our yard and our little Sissy. I also gave him a copy of the seven page vet report on Bella, which he added to the file. I agree with those of you who expressed concern about the dog’s owners. Why was she running around loose, and was she taught to go after prey? We will keep you posted on Bella’s progress, and again, soak up the thoughts and prayers you are sending our way. Our only consolation is knowing that Sissy will never again feel pain or fear, and has joined her sisters and brothers over Rainbow Bridge.