FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A South Florida family is distraught after their dog was killed over the weekend by another dog.
"There wasn't a chance to do anything. He was on my dog," Barry Favre said.
Favre is still traumatized by the loss of his miniature pincher named Captain America. He adopted him two years ago from the Humane Society of Broward County.
The Captain, as he was called, was 5 years old.
Favre said he was walking Captain America not far from his house Saturday when the dog was attacked.
"We got about four houses down, and the pit bull was on him before we could do anything," Favre said. "I yelled and screamed. One of my neighbors called and helped get the dog off. It was too late."
Favre said the dog that attacked Captain America was a pit bull mix named Ossy.
Ossy's owners surrendered the dog to Broward County Animal Care after they were cited.
He will remain in quarantine until he has been fully evaluated.
"In this kind of situation, we would cite the owner of the dog that bit or killed the other animal, and then we investigate to determine if we have to declare the dog dangerous," Lisa Mendheim, of the Animal Care and Adoption Division of the Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department, said.
The $500 citation given to Ossy's owners is little consolation for Captain America's owner, who is still heartbroken.
"What will you miss most about him?" Local 10 News reporter Neki Mohan asked Favre.
"The way he burps," Favre said. "Never had a dog that burped, and he would walk up to me and burp. It was the sweetest thing in the world."
Favre hopes Captain's short life will be a reminder to everyone else to be a responsible pet owner.
"I just want people to take care of their animals (and) have a little bit more responsibility," Favre said. "To have a dog loose like that (with) no collar. (It's) got to stop. I don't want it to happen to anyone else. I don't want anyone to go through this feeling."