Justice for Cocoa- dragged from his backyard and murdered

I am writing to you in an effort to seek out justice for my beloved family pet who was brutally murdered by my neighbors dogs. Cocoa was a fifteen pound Terrier mix that I rescued in 2003.
On September 2, 2007 I was in my backyard with my dog, Cocoa while he used the restroom. I heard noises on the other side of the fence and went to investigate. Upon closer inspection I saw the neighbors Chow frantically digging at the fence. Cocoa went to the fence to see what was going on and the Chow grabbed him by the throat and pulled him under the fence. I desperately tried to pull him back through by his hind legs but, when the neighbors other dog (a Lab) joined in pulling him under there was nothing I could do. I was screaming for help and banging on the fence. I attempted to climb over it without success. I ran back into my house and out of my front door. I went to the neighbors house and banged on her door. She answered it with a towel on and I asked her to get her dogs off of mine in her backyard. She shut the door and went out to her yard. At this time I was standing at the fence on the side of her house screaming for the dogs to stop. I could hear my poor dog screaming. Her daughter then came outside and let me in the house. I went to her backyard and found my dog a bloody mangled mess in the back corner. I immediately rushed him to the Denton County Animal Emergency Clinic for treatment. He had a punctured lung and it had collapsed. He couldnt breathe on his own and was on oxygen while they desperately tried to stabilize him for surgery. He spent eight hours there with no improvement. I had to have him humanely euthanized to end his suffering. Around 9:00 p.m. when I returned home from the emergency clinic I called the Saginaw Police Department for assistance. Officer Mc. Daniel arrived and advised me that he had contacted Saginaw Animal Control since this was an animal related issue. He waited there with me until A.C.O. Jose Wheeland arrived. ACO Wheeland began looking through a binder of laws to see if he could impound the animals that night. He advised me since it happened in her yard (even though their dogs pulled mine under) that he had to do an investigation. He advised me to go to City Hall and file a sworn statement of the events. I did that on September 4, 2007. On September 5th I went with a friend to drop off pictures of my dog before and after the attack for evidence. I also provided photographic evidence that their dogs had broken down my fence and attacked my dog six months prior. On Saturday September 8th after looking at a survey I discovered the fence between our yards was not a common fence as originally believed. It belonged to me and was within my property lines. I confirmed this with the survey company on Monday September 10th.

I called Saginaw Animal Control and spoke with Kevin. I advised him that the fence was not a common fence and that I had a survey as proof. I asked him if he needed that for the investigation. He told me it was not necessary and that he would pass the information to Jose Wheeland.
On September 17th I received a certified letter from Mr. Wheeland stating that he had not deemed the dogs dangerous. I called him and requested he return my call and return my documents and photos that I provided for evidence. He returned my call later that afternoon at 5:00 pm. I advised him I received his letter and I asked him if Kevin told him that I called and left a message that the fence was indeed my property and that I offered to provide proof. He said Kevin may have told me but I had 1600 other things going on at the same time I then asked about the appeal process. He told me that he never had anyone appeal and he didnt know what the process was. I asked that he find out and contact me.

This is the ordinance in relation to dangerous dogs for the city of Saginaw, Texas.
Dangerous dog means a dog that makes an unprovoked attack on a person or other animal that causes bodily injury and occurs in a place other than the enclosure in which the dog is being kept and that was reasonably certain to prevent the dog from leaving the enclosure on its own
This ordinance does apply in my situation yet, the animal control officers will not uphold the law.
My neighbors have been using my fence in a halfway attempt to confine their very dangerous dogs even after they knew of the original attack. I have placed wire and cement blocks to deter their animals from coming in my backyard. I have installed security cameras. I cannot allow my children in my backyard.

On September 28, 2007 I was called by Sharon at the City of Saginaw. She stated that Nan Stanford was in charge of reviewing the investigation and that she would be in touch with me. This came after e-mailing Gary Brinkley, the Mayor of Saginaw multiple times.

On October 30, 2007, I called and spoke with Nan Stanford to find out the status of the complaint. She stated that after reviewing the documents from Animal Control she believed they had done the investigation properly. I attempted to explain to her how my case falls under the ordinance that the city already had in place.

It is my belief the City of Saginaw is acting in an unethical manner. It is their professional responsibility to uphold the laws in place in Saginaw.


It is only a matter of time before they attack again. After all, this is the second offense. Since the attack on September 2, 2007 the Chow has been seen running through the neighborhood unsupervised. I will gladly provide you with documents and photos that support my claims at your request. I implore you to assist me in resolving this issue.