Deadly Dog Attack on Las Olas Highlights Shelter Policy Failures

Tragic Dog Attack on Las Olas

• 💔 A walk on Las Olas Boulevard turned tragic when a pit bull attacked a 4-year-old Malti-poo named Gracie.
• 💥 The attacking dog, Lucy, lunged and clamped down on Gracie, violently shaking her and causing a severe leg injury.
• 🆘 Bystanders intervened to save Gracie, who suffered a dislocated back leg and a large open gash, leading to an $8,000 vet bill.
• 😔 The owner, Lisa Zender, made the heartbreaking decision to euthanize Gracie due to the severity of her injuries.

Shelter's Handling of the Attacking Dog

• ⚠️ Broward County Animal Care confirmed the pit bull, Lucy, had been returned by a foster in January due to biting and fighting other dogs.
• 📍 A previous bite incident involving a human was recorded in Palm Beach County, where the dog's owner lived at the time.
• 📝 In paperwork, the foster noted the dog was not cat or dog friendly and had issues walking, stating the dog was "not nice with other animals."

Adoption Policies and Homeless Adopters

• ❓ Despite Lucy's history of biting, she was adopted out by Broward County Animal Care on April 16th, with the attack occurring the very next day.
• 🏠 The adopter, Roy BMBmber, was later found to be homeless, raising questions about the shelter's vetting process.
• ⚖️ Broward County Animal Care stated they do not discriminate and assess adoptions on a case-by-case basis, offering resources to homeless adopters.
• ❓ The shelter does not keep records of how many animals are adopted out to homeless individuals.

Aftermath and Owner's Grief

• 😔 Lisa Zender expressed anger and heartbreak over the loss of Gracie, feeling the incident could have been avoided.
• ⚖️ The attacking dog, Lucy, was humanely euthanized by the shelter the same day the attack occurred.
• 🗣️ JC Burch, animal advocate for Local 10 News, questions the shelter's decision to return the dog to the streets, especially to a homeless individual.