Owner of slain PG pit bull speak out

The owner of the pit bull who was stabbed to death in a dog fight at a Pacific Grove park on Tuesday is speaking out.

While she is sorry the other dog owner involved had to go through this, she believes her dog is a victim too, saying this is a double tragedy and something that could have been prevented.

Suzanne Renkvist says she lost a best friend, a companion and a caregiver on Tuesday. She got her pit bull, whom she named Freja, when the dog was just six months old, rescuing her from the pound and giving the scared young pup a lot of love.

“She just developed into this very wonderful dog when she got out of that phase,” said Renkvist, who is a Pacific Grove resident.

She says her pit bull saved her life a number of times, in different ways, and was a true companion. But Renkvist recently fell ill and lent Freja to a friend while she stayed at the hospital.

Renkvist says she gave specific instructions not to let Freja off the leash or be taken to a dog park.

“She was not aggressive, but pit bulls are misunderstood and others are afraid of them, and they are therefore in more danger when they’re off a leash and when they go to a dog park,” said Renkvist.

She says her friend broke both of those rules. Police say Freja ended up attacking another dog at Lynn Rip Van Winkle Open Space in Pacific Grove.

The other dog’s owner tried to pull them apart, but ended up having to pull out a knife and stab Freja to death, something Renkvist says went too far.

“I can understand that he was afraid and terrified and all of that, I can understand that,” she said. “But to use a knife was too much force. I cannot understand why a knife.”

Renkvist now hopes to bury Freja in Sacramento, where she first found her.

“I really, really loved my Freja. She was the sweetest, sweetest little dog. And everyone that met here with me loved Freja,” she said.

Renkvist hopes telling her side of the story will leave a better legacy for Freja and help de-stigmatize pit bulls.

No one is being charged with a crime for Tuesday’s dog fight.