A family in Wasilla, Alaska, is mourning the loss of their eight-year-old Havanese, Lucky, who was killed by sled dogs belonging to an Iditarod veteran and reality TV star. According to multiple sources, musher Jessie Holmes, who stars in the National Geographic show, “Life Below Zero: Alaska,” was staying in a hotel near Liza and Marc McCafferty’s residence. In late March, he let his dogs loose to relieve themselves when they went into McCafferty’s yard and attacked her small dog.
In a public Facebook post, McCafferty recounted what happened on March 25:
Our dog, Lucky (AKA Bubby) had been let out in our yard on his lead which only allows him to go to almost the edge of our property. No other dogs were present at that time. I had taken a break as well. When I returned a few minutes later, I noted that Lucy’s lead was taut leading me to believe he had gotten wrapped around a bush or something. Upon going out onto the deck to get him, I noticed a loose black dog. In an instant, I noticed that there were numerous loose dogs in the yard. I saw Lucky being attacked by a group of those dogs and when I tried to stop the attack, the dogs were aggressive and would not allow me to approach.
Describing what the attack did to her dog:
Lucky was unresponsive and his intestines were hanging out. His neck was gouged and was bloodied from the attack; he was dead.
According to McCafferty, Holmes was surprised by what happened. She writes:
He stated that he had picked up a couple of dogs that he wasn’t familiar with and didn’t think they would do this. He stated that he would do anything to “make things right.” I asked him to leave as I was too angry to speak to him and asked for his name and contact information, which he provided. With assistance from a friend, we transported Lucky to Tier 1 veterinary clinic where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Holmes has accepted responsibility for what happened and he has acknowledged that it was because of “his negligence” reports CBS News.
Holmes faces the potential of multiple citations, and a possible animal cruelty charge.
(Image via screenshot/Liza McCafferty Facebook)
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What a heartbreaking situation. No dogs should be allowed to run loose no matter what the owner thinks they will or will not do. You never know. My heart goes out to Lucky’s owners, I can’t imagine the horror!
This is unbelievably tragic. I can’t even imagine the horror and grief that Lucky’s family is experiencing…… the Peters’ Menagerie sends condolences…….???
The dogs’ owner deserves citations but should also pay for vet bills (for cremation or burial) & necropsy, counseling for grief and stress for the family’s loss…….
This awful situation is why there are “leash laws”…… the dogs’ owner who allowed his dogs to run loose needs an update on animal care……