Aug 28, 2008 6:50 pm US/Central
Owner Of Pit Bulls Speaks About Service Dog Attack
(WCCO)
The owner
of the pit bulls who attacked a quadriplegic's service dog is speaking out.
Joel Wheelock
owns the two pit bulls, Neeko and Damien. On Monday night the dogs escaped from
their Champlin, Minn.,
yard and attacked Tara Wirtjes service dog, Rue.
"I want
apologize to the lady and her service dog ... I feel terrible about the situation. I wish it never
happened," said Wheelock.
The attack
happened as Wirtjes, an aide and Rue were walking past Wheelock's home.
Wirtjes
said she was terrified, adding, "I just thought this is how she was going
to die."
Wirtjes
spun her wheelchair to put herself in between Rue and the pit bulls. Wheelock
was able to call off his dogs but only after they bit into a scar on Rues back
that was healing from an operation.
Wheelock
describes Neeko as an escape artist who was able to push open the fence gate. He
says Damien followed.
The dogs, Neeko
and Damien, are in an animal control facility pending the outcome of the
investigation.
Wheelock
said he has agreed to have his female dog, Neeko, euthanized. He said that is the
one that attacked Tara's service dog, but he
said he will fight to protect the life of Damien, the male dog.
Wirtjes said
it was both dogs that attacked Rue.
WCCO also received
an e-mail from a woman who said Wheelock's dogs attacked her dog last summer. Wheelock
admits to those attacks, but he insists his dogs are misunderstood.
"I
think that they go over there to play -- they play rough," he said.
Wirtjes
said those dogs weren't playing and she is just grateful that Rue is going to
be OK.
"It
would be devastating to me to have something happen to her," Wirtjes said.
Meanwhile, Neeko
will be euthanized Friday.
Police said
it is possible Wheelock could face charges in the case.
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