1 dog killed, another severely injured after attack in Collier County

One dog is dead and another on the mend after a dog attack in Collier County.

Collier County Domestic Animal Services said a pitbull grabbed one dog by the neck, throwing him around. Then it went after the other dog on Valencia Drive near Immokalee and Oil Well Roads, pinning it in its mouth.

Matt Gilbert was able to get Tia free but sadly Tia didn’t survive.

Melody Coyle loved the Yorkie. The other dog, a Shitzu, is named Teddy.

“I can’t replace her. And my other dog suffers,” Melody said.

The family wants the other dog and its owner to be held accountable.

According to the Collier County Domestic Animal Services report, Coyle’s daughter, Ashley Gilbert, was walking the two dogs on Monday. The report stated a pitbull named Mia charged and attacked.

“I heard a blood-curdling scream,” Matt said.

“The pitbull came in a matter of seconds. And at first it attacked teddy, the one that survived. And once it saw the little Tia, it dropped Teddy and went after Tia and wasn’t letting go of Tia,” Ashley said.

That’s when Ashley’s husband Matt stormed out to pin the pitbull and try to save Tia.

“It was really a miracle that I was able to get it out. It took me two tries,” Matt said.

Teddy suffered severe punctures to his neck and is recovering.

The pitbull is currently in an eight-day quarantine period at a relative’s home, based on safety concerns brought up by Coyle’s family, while DAS conducts a dangerous dog investigation.

“If it happened once it’s going to happen again. I don’t want to hear that some child got killed. Or some other dog got killed,” Melody said.

Both Matt and Ashley, who is pregnant, were injured but are okay.

WINK News reached out to the family that owns the pitbull, but they’ve declined to provide any comment.