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Terrier attacked by loose pit bull on Cape Cod dies

YARMOUTH, Mass. — A terrier that was attacked by a pit bull earlier this week has died, police tell FOX25.

Wednesday night, Christine Lovico from Yarmouth was out walking the terrier on Roberta Drive when the loose pit bull lunged at her from behind, and snatched her dog out of her hands. He attacked for a full four minutes.

Lovico picked up her terrier, but was bitten in the back and on the hands by the pit bull herself.

“Did the holding him in my arms and circling and everything I could, but a 60 or 70 pound pit bull is a big dog. They’re all muscle, and I just wasn’t a let to protect him,” she said.

Police have the pit bull in quarantine and say they owner could face lengthy legal procedure that could end with the dog being put down, but will not face any criminal charges. Massachusetts state law does not protect against animal violence unless it is being used as a weapon.

The Yarmouth Police Department is now working with the Department of Natural Resources to see if they can work up a law to protect people from similar violence in the future, but also posing the question as to whether the state should take it up. Right now, the only citation the owner would face is a $25 off-leash fine, regardless of whether the animal dug up a garden, attacked another animal, or killed a person.

“Tragic situation that occurred imagine your dog your beloved pet killed in front of you," Deputy Police Chief Steven Xiarhos said. “There could be a town by-law, but really when you think about it perhaps there should be a state law this could happen in your town, in any town or city in Massachusetts”.

The pit bull had previously been owned by Christian Chapman, a member of the Nauti Block Gang who is currently incarcerated for attempted murder and drug related offenses. It is being cared for by Chapman's girlfriend.

Meanwhile, Lovico is left with a $7,000 veterinarian bill and a lost pet.

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