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St. Pete Woman Walking Dog Unable To Save It From Pit Bull

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON and ROD CHALLENGER

The Tampa Tribune News Channel 8

Published: June 17, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Jean Post was taking her Boston terrier for a walk Sunday morning when two pit bulls suddenly appeared.

One of them, she said, grabbed her beloved Max. The 80-year-old woman tried to rescue her dog, even putting her hand into the mouth of the pit bull to pry the dog loose, but it was no use, she said.

"He shook him like a rag doll and threw him around, and I am screaming," she said Monday.

Max died of his injuries. Post was taken to a hospital and treated for the few bites she suffered.

The two pit bulls -- one is named Money, the other Paco -- have since been traced to owner Shermon Britten, who lives at 700 63rd Ave. S. That's not far from where the attack occurred, or from the condominium where Jean Post lives with her husband.

The dogs will be quarantined for 10 days to ensure they don't have rabies, then Britten can plead his case to get the animals back. The dogs won't automatically be euthanized, Pinellas County animal control workers said.

Britten said it appeared his dogs forced their way through a loose part of a fence on his property. He said the pit bulls, before Sunday's attack, had never been in a fight with another dog.

He was sympathetic of Post's loss: "I feel sad. She lost a dog."

Before Max was killed, Post used to tell her husband that Max would be their last dog, but now they are contemplating getting another Boston terrier through a rescue group.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com. Reporter Rod Challenger can be reached at (727) 536-9603 or rchallenger@wfla.com.

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