WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Pit Bull Kills Dog and Starts Family Fight

Pit Bull Kills Dog and Starts Family Fight

By David Kenney
david@wlbt.net 

The Rankin County Sheriff's Department is investigating a pit-bull attack that occurred Tuesday evening. It happened on Garth Farm Road south of Brandon. The victim in this case was another dog that died from its injuries. 

Lisa McDonald had just fed her 12-year-old Pomeranian Tuesday night and was letting him outside when he was attacked.

McDonald says,

"As soon as I opened that door, that pit bull was standing right here," McDonald says. "He just reached and grabbed him and he killed him right here.

"He grabbed him so hard you could hear bones cracking," McDonald continued. "It was just the most horrible thing."

The culprit, a neighbor's pit bull, was picked up by the Rankin County Sheriff's Department Wednesday. The owners of the two dogs are related but are at odds over several issues.

Ethel Haggerty, the owner of the pit bull, says it was an accident.

"We had a collar on him," she said. "The dog slipped his head out the collar."

Sheriff Ronnie Pennington called the incident "unfortunate" and said both dogs should have been on leashes.

"We have complained the dog was off just a month ago," said McDonald. "They're not in compliance. They just got written a ticket."

McDonald says she doesn't know what caused the pit bull to attack. He had visited her home many times before without incident, but she now plans to file charges.

Her dog Brandon has been put to rest in front of her home, where everyone who loved him is paying their respects.

The sheriff's department says the pit bull will be held for ten days. It will then be determined if it can safely be returned to its owner.