Owner of big dog that attacked, killed smaller pooch sought

Lucy Ellis said she was walking her nearly 3-year-old terrier, named Chilly, on Whittington Drive when a much larger yellow dog darted out from a nearby gazebo and attacked the smaller dog.

Lucy, 11, said the larger dog grabbed the rat terrier like a toy and yanked it around.

"It was pretty scary because there was this giant dog throwing my dog around like a toy," she said.

The young girl said she tried to get in between the dogs and was scratched before a passerby -- not the owner of the aggressive dog -- stopped and helped.

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"I tried to get in between them, but the dog was so fast," Lucy said. "It was much faster than me."

Chilly had to be put down after the vet determined her intestinal injuries were too severe.

"I ended up getting my shoulder in between them, and the dog let go to try and get a better grip," Lucy said. "So, Chilly ran back into the gazebo to find cover and that's when the owner grabbed the blonde dog to keep it from attacking Chilly again."

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Since the incident, no one has seen the owner of the attacking dog.

"We always try to teach our children to take responsibility when they've done something wrong," said Jeana Ellis, Lucy's mother. "That's just what we want this gentleman to do."

The family filed a report with animal control and put up fliers in the neighborhood to try and locate the owner of the large dog, whose name is believed to be Chloe.

Due to the scratch, there's a possibility that Lucy might have to get rabies shots if they can't verify that the dog that scratched her was vaccinated.

Lucy received a small bite on her finger during the incident, but it was Chilly that she was concerned about.

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Lucy and her mother drove the smaller dog to a specialty veterinarian, but the animal's life could not be saved.

"We had to put her down," Lucy said.

The family continues to grieve in the days since the attack last month.

"She was really happy," Lucy said. "When she would wag (her tail), you could hear it against the couch."

"I wish he would come forward because it's hard talking about it," Lucy said. "It's kind of frustrating."

Lucy Ellis described the dog walker to animal control as a man in gray and black workout clothing and who wore New Balance sneakers.

He had salt-and-pepper hair and is believed to be in his late 50's or early 60's. He was walking two large dogs, including the yellow dog named Chloe that attacked Lucy's dog.

Anyone with information is asked to call Raleigh Police.