An evening walk at Ketring Park turned into a nightmare for the Dill family on Monday when their 11-year-old dog, Ollie, was fatally mauled by an off-leash dog. Dan and Julie Dill say they were out with their pug-shih tzu mix when a larger dog lunged at him. Despite frantic efforts to pull Ollie away and get him help, he died from severe wounds. The family says they plan to hold a small memorial at the park and are urging other dog owners to follow leash laws so no one else has to go through the same thing.
Attack, Citation and Quarantine
According to Littleton police, the attacking dog, described as a pit-bull mix, was off-leash, and its owner left the scene before later being cited. The dog has been placed in quarantine while investigators continue to follow up. Officers responded to the incident at Ketring Park, and neighbors told reporters they were shaken by how quickly a routine park stroll turned violent. The family’s plans for a memorial and their plea that others obey leash rules were detailed in local coverage, as reported by KDVR.
Family Describes the Moments
“I tried desperately to pull Ollie away,” Dan Dill told reporters, adding that Ollie had “large rips” on his back along with other severe injuries. His wife, Julie, described Ollie as “part of the family” and said they walked him at Ketring Park every day. For the couple, that familiar route is now tied to a sudden loss. Those recollections and the family’s account to police were included in local coverage, as reported by KDVR.
Leash Rules and How to Report Loose Animals
Both the City of Littleton and the South Suburban Parks and Recreation District require that pets be leashed outside designated off-leash areas, and city rules specify that leashes should be no longer than six feet, according to the Littleton Police Department’s animal control page. The department asks residents to report loose or aggressive animals via its non-emergency number and guides bite reporting and quarantine procedures, as outlined by Littleton Police.
Park Context and Next Steps
Ketring Park is part of the Ketring-Gallup parks complex near the Littleton Museum and has been the focus of recent city planning efforts, according to the City of Littleton. The Dills say they hope a memorial for Ollie, along with their message about leash use, will remind neighbors that parks are shared spaces where rules exist to keep people and pets safe. City and animal-control officials say the investigation remains open and have not announced any criminal charges beyond the citation already issued.
