Woman speaks out after dog attack in Seaside

SEASIDE, Calif. (KION) A Seaside woman is hoping to save other people from tragedy after she said her dog was attacked and suffered injuries so bad he had to be put down.

“Terrible damage. It basically ripped him to pieces,” Owner Kellye Valnizza said.

She told KION it all happened as her boyfriend was walking their two dogs down a trail at the end of Plumas Ave just as it meets General Jim Moore Blvd. She said a dark brindle pitbull with a black head, off leash, came running at their dogs and viciously attacked her terrier.

“He had bite marks everywhere, tears everywhere. His left front leg was 
practically ripped off and hanging by a thread,” Valnizza said.

His injuries were so bad they thought it was best to euthanize him.

“We’re 60 so, you know, your dogs become your children. You never think you’re going to take your dog out for a walk and you’re not going to come back with one of them,” she added.

Area dog owners are concerned, especially after another pet was killed and 
one more injured after attacks in December in other parts of town.

“There are a lot of aggressive dogs out there and for what happened,, it hit 
me hard,” neighbor Duane Gilliam said.

Neighbors said the dog may belong to a homeless person that they see 
frequently in the neighborhood.

But it may take some time before the city gains more control over 
potentially dangerous dogs. The city passed a “vicious dog ordinance” but it will be weeks before it takes effect.

Under the ordinance, owners of potentially dangerous dogs may be required to pay higher licensing fees and purchase liability insurance. They could also face fines of up to $1,000.

Valnizza filed a report with seaside police and they confirmed for us they are looking into this. We're told the ordinance, though, will only apply to future incidents after it goes into effect next month.