A dog's life cut short

WOODBRIDGE, Va. -Last Thursday was a typical one for 9-year-old Kody.

Tied to a small tree in the front yard of his Woodbridge home, the pure bred Shiba Inu laid on the grass, wagging his tail and soaking in the sunshine.

He had just taken a walk with his owner's girlfriend and was being his normal friendly self. Neighboring children were milling around, acknowledging him with smiles and the occasional petting of his red-colored fur.

Moments later, Kody was dead, the victim of what witnesses said was a horrific attack by neighboring pit bulls.

The incident started when the pit bulls, who lived next door, bolted out of the front door and ran straight at Kody, witnesses said.

Kody's owner, 19-year-old Broc Pulley, tried desperately to fend off the attack after a neighbor knocked on his door and told him what was happening.

Two of his friends whacked at the pit bulls with hockey sticks, while Pulley punched one of the dogs in the face in an attempt to get them off his dog.

But it was too late. The larger pit bull broke the chain holding Kody and dragged his limp body two houses down.

Prince William County Animal Control officers were able to corral the pit bulls after a few minutes and euthanized them at the shelter the next day, said Prince William police spokeswoman Erika Hernandez.

"It was one of the most disturbing things I have seen in my life," said 22-year-old friend Damien Houck, who tried in vain to save Kody. "...You wake up one morning, the day is going great and [something like this], it's the last thing you expect."

Kody's death was something that Pulley's neighbors and friends believe could have been avoided, saving three dogs' lives in the process.

A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE?

Neighbor Kym Porter was walking her two pit bulls the morning of March 9, shovel in hand to clean up after them.

All of the sudden, the tan-colored pit bull who later would attack Kody jumped the fence and bolted straight for her dogs. As the pit bull snapped at her pets, Porter took the shovel in her hand and "walloped the dog as hard as I could."

The tan pit bull left the scene, but seconds later the other pit bull in the attack on Kody jumped the fence and ran toward Porter and her dogs. She screamed for help and cowered against a nearby fence, out of breath and shaking.

Luckily a few "nice doggy" comments by the terrified Porter made the pit bull back down.

After the harrowing incident Porter pressed charges against dog owner Kari Baker, who resides at 15140 Arum Place. Baker was cited on April 1 for allowing a dog to run at large, a misdemeanor that carried a $75 fine.

According to Porter, Baker claimed in court that it was the first time her dogs had gotten loose. But Porter said she had told her homeowners management company -- Dumfries-based Cavalier -- that these dogs had run unsupervised before and she tried to tell that to the judge during her hearing.

However, according to Porter, the judge made her sit down and be quiet.

"Maybe if he [the judge] would have listened to us, maybe we wouldn't be here with three dead dogs," Porter said. "I can't even imagine what his [Pulley's] dog endured."

According to Virginia statute, a dog isn't considered "dangerous" unless the animal has attacked and inflicted serious physical injury as determined by a licensed veterinarian. In Porter's criminal complaint, police Officer Justin Workman cited no injuries; therefore Baker was allowed to keep her dogs.

Baker was not at home to witness Thursday's incident. However, she said she was told by a family friend who witnessed the fight that Kody had bitten one of the pit bulls, thus provoking the attack.

According to Prince William County Animal Control Director Dawn Harman, it doesn't matter which dog started the fight. If a dog is properly chained on its owner's property, then the other dogs are, in effect, "trespassing."

Baker is being charged with allowing a dog to run at large. Her court date is May 27.

BREED OR OWNER?

Virginia statute states that no dog shall be found to be a dangerous dog or vicious dog solely because it is a particular breed.

Pulley is convinced that the reason Thursday's incident occurred had everything to do with Baker and nothing to do with the breed of the dog.

A few months ago, Pulley said, the pit bulls had broken a hole through the wooden fence that separates the two backyards. The damage has been remedied by a metal plate.

"I have heard her yelling [at them]," Pulley said. "I know how they're treated....I have never seen them being walked."

Training them properly, as well as using a little common sense, goes a long way, added Porter. If she sees a scenario that could potentially lead to trouble, she and her pit bulls avoid it.

During the course of the legal process, Pulley hopes Baker's pit bull puppy will be removed from her care, as well. Baker said she's training the puppy by taking socialization classes and is actually scared that one of her neighbors might hurt her dog.

She also said that after the initial incident with Porter, she chained her dogs to a pole when they were in the backyard, so they couldn't jump the fence again.

"They [neighbors] are making it uncomfortable," Baker said. "I thought we could get by this [incident] in a civilized manner."

GRIEF, RECOVERY

The loss of Kody has devastated Pulley. To make matters worse, he said he has received no apologies from Baker, who told the News & Messenger she feels terrible about the incident.

Without any siblings and just a few close friends, Pulley called his dog "his best friend."

At some point each day after the incident, the Snyder's of Hanover employee has broken down into tears -- even once at work.

And on Tuesday afternoon, Pulley did what he's being doing since he had to say his final goodbye to Kody. He walked to where his pet was dragged to and stared down at the spot with a look of sadness and disbelief.

"There was nothing more inhumane than to watch my dog get pulled away from me," Pulley said.

The community has sympathized with Pulley's plight, though. Neighbors have sent flowers and cards. Some of the children even created their own card with a pencil sketch of the dog's face and the words "We Will Always Remember Kody, RIP," written in different colored markers.

An orange balloon floats above Kody's tree with flowers and a sign saying, "Kody, Our Friend, We Will Always Love & Miss."

Pulley also has a petition with 60 signatures -- several of people who witnessed the incident -- supporting his efforts to find closure and seek justice for what happened to his Kody.

"I couldn't be getting through this right now if I didn't have this support," Pulley said.

Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-530-3904.