Pit Bull Owner Fights to Save Pet From Euthanasia

Michelle Gwinn was forced to turn over her dog, Rosco, back in March following an encounter with a shih tzu that left the smaller dog dead

A pit bull from Chicago's Southwest Side isn't dangerous, didn't attack another dog, and deserves to be released from Animal Care and Control after being held there for more than two months, the dog's owner said Wednesday. 

Michelle Gwinn said she was forced to turn over her dog, Rosco, back in March following an encounter with a shih tzu that left the smaller dog dead. Rosco has been held ever since and could be euthanized.

It was the evening of March 16 when Gwinn's husband took the 4-year-old Rosco out for a bathroom break in front of the family's home. Gwinn said the small shih tzu approached and never made contact with Rosco but later became scared and ran into the street.

"I saw this little dog run into the middle of the street and was ran over by a car," Gwinn recalled.

The shih tzu's owner told police that Rosco attacked his dog seconds before being struck. Police in their report said they didn't notice any bite wounds, but a veterinarian later determined the dog had a single bite wound to its ear.

"I don't believe that my dog bit that other dog at all. My husband said there was no contact between those two dogs for a bite to happen. I don't believe it ever happened," said Gwinn.

In their report, city officials said complaints about Rosco from other neighbors and evidence that the deceased dog had a bite wound forced them to declare Rosco a dangerous animal and ordered him to be euthanized.

Rosco's supporters have created a "Save Rosco" page on Facebook and a GoFundMe.com account to help raise money for an appeal. A spokesperson with Chicago Animal Care & Control declined to comment, citing the ongoing appeal. 

Gwinn said her next hearing about Rosco will happen in June, and she said she hopes that hearing will bring her one step closer to bringing her dog home.

"It's the worst experience ever to sit here and wonder every single day what's going on with your dog [and] when is he coming home," said Gwinn.

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