A dog attack at a Miami apartment complex has left a small schnauzer named "Tico" severely injured and its owner traumatized. The violent clash, which was captured on cellphone video, occurred on Feb. 16 and showed an American bulldog mix from a first-floor unit of Half Moon Towers relentlessly biting into Tico's neck, as reported by Local 10 News and WSVN.
Elda Gonzalez Batista, a resident, intervened in an effort to save the schnauzer mix by swinging a traffic cone at the attacking dog. Despite these efforts, Tico's owner, Ernesto Casaus, described the incident as a nightmare, recounting to WSVN that "this dog almost killed our dog." Casaus fears that Tico, adopted from Puerto Rico four years ago and known for being friendly, might never overcome the trauma of the attack, which left his pet needing two surgeries and at least 40 stitches. Local 10 News also reported Tico having to regularly visit the vet to change dressings on the severe wounds.
The brutal attack not only shook Tico's family, but also the larger community of Half Moon Towers. After the incident, local residents signed a letter demanding the aggressive dog to be removed from the premises. The Miami-Dade County Animal Services (MDAS) has initiated a dangerous dog investigation, giving the owner of the victimized dog a two-week period to provide an affidavit and supporting documentation for the case, as per a statement issued by the MDAS and obtained by WSVN.
Moreover, the owner of the American bulldog mix has taken financial responsibility for Tico's veterinary treatment which has amounted to about $3,000, according to Local 10 News. Detectives are currently urging anyone with information on the attack or other similar cases to contact Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
As Tico continues to recover from his injuries, with frequent vet visits for checkups and wound care, the Miami-Dade County Animal Services is meticulously progressing through their investigation process. This undertaken with a consistency, whether the incidents involve humans or other domestic animals, to determine if the dog will be classified as dangerous and if its owner will face citations, stated the MDAS.
