September 22, 2018- Pitbulls attacked and kill Bella the emotional support dog while on a walk with her owner Linda Swinburn. The police report noted that this was the fourth time in 14 months pitbull owner Nathaniel Thomas Pettiford’s dogs escaped his house and attacked other dogs and people.
November 27, 2018- The pitbulls involved in the attack were euthanized.
December 22, 2018- Arlene Zavocki Stewart, her mother and her beagle-pug mix, Fred, were attacked while on a walk in Alachua. Fred died during the attack, and witness Henry Rabel recorded the incident on video.
February 25, 2019- Tico the chihuahua was attacked and killed by two pit bulls that had escaped through a hole in the fence surrounding their yard. William Woodrow Hicks, the pitbulls’ owner, surrendered them to Animal Services, where they were euthanized.
March 8, 2019- A two-year-old boy was mauled to death by dogs and his grandmother is seriously injured in High Springs.
March 26, 2019- Five dogs escape from their yard attack a woman and her dog a street over from the scene of Bella’s death.
April 4, 2019- The Alachua County Commission met to discuss possible solutions to address the string of attacks.
April 9, 2019- County Commissioners passed the irresponsible pet owners clause, which will attempt to aid in the prosecution of owners who do not care for their pets properly.
