SARASOTA, Fla. — A walk near Central Avenue in Sarasota turned into a scary situation on Sunday for a dog owner and her pet, as the small dog was attacked and bitten by a larger dog before the two could be separated.
- Small dog treated by emergency veterinarian
- Larger dog is a registered service dog, has been returned to his owner
- Sarasota Police still investigating
- More Manatee County stories
Dana Laag said she had her dog, Fig, on a retractable leash as they were walking down the sidewalk. That's when she said within seconds a larger dog had his teeth in Fig's back.
"This dog charged us just for coming around the corner,” she said.
Laag and her boyfriend were both injured as they tried to pull the dogs apart.
Lawrence Grampp, a homeless man who recently relocated to the city, owns the other dog involved in the incident. He says he has had Champion for roughly three years.
"[Champion] didn't attack nobody, he bit a dog,” he explained. “It’s animal instinct and dogs bite each other, it’s going to happen."
Champion was brought to Sarasota County Animal Services following the incident, while Fig received care at an emergency veterinarian.
Grampp says bite marks on his hand are from Laag’s dog and he has plans to pursue legal action.
"Personal injury,” he said. “Her dog bit me 10 times."
Should dog be separated from owner?
Laag, meanwhile, told us she fears that another small dog could be injured in a future interaction with Grampp and Champion.
“He's trying to sue us and I don't feel protected by the law anymore,” Laag said. “I don’t wish for the dog to be harmed in any way, neither to his owner, I just wish for them to be separated.”
Grampp says that Champion is his service dog and he’s not giving him up.
"He's a registered seizure alert dog. Online on the database and everything,” he explained.
According to Crystal Davis with Sarasota County Animal Services, Champion was released from the pound after Grampp contacted animal services and reported that Champion was a service dog.
“We asked the question, 'is that a service animal and what service does it provide?'” Davis stated.
Sarasota Police are investigating this case.