“It could have been prevented," family loses two pets to same dog

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK) — A Cape Coral mother and daughter are speaking out after losing two beloved pets, both killed by the same dog.

"It could have been prevented," Makina Wilkerson, mother of Joryah Wilkerson, said. "It really could have been prevented."

When you walk into Makina’s office at Fortune Financial Services in Fort Myers, the first thing you notice isn’t a desk or paperwork. 

It’s a memorial for her dog, Teddy, and her daughter Joryah’s dog, Louie.

“Louie was the tax office dog,” Makina said. “He just walked through here. Everybody knew Louie.”

Cape Coral police records show Louie was killed on Dec. 31 just after 5 p.m. 

The family says a neighbor’s dog slipped under a fence, grabbed Louie, and ran. They tell WINK Investigates officers later found Louie dead in a bush.

“I just don’t feel right to be alive, honestly and just do my life and Louie’s not here,” Joryah said through tears. “I really do miss him. I think about him every day.”

Animal control records obtained by WINK Investigates show that nearly a year before Louie died, the same dog killed Makina's dog, Teddy, in the same way. At the time, records show the family did not pursue civil or criminal charges – a decision they now say they regret.

"This is so close together, you know, it's like, so something needs to be done," Makina said. 

Under Florida law, if police refer a case to animal control, the agency can investigate a dog as “dangerous.” A dangerous dog must be kept in a “proper enclosure” designed to prevent escape over, under, or through. 

The family says that after the first attack, animal control never followed up.

“Animal control should have followed up being that an animal had been killed,” Makina said.

WINK Investigates asked Cape Coral Police in an email whether the case was referred to animal control or whether a dangerous dog assessment was ever done. A spokesperson said that information would need to come from Lee County.

WINK Investigates emailed the county three times asking whether a dangerous dog assessment was conducted.

In an email response, a county spokesperson did not say whether a dangerous dog assessment was completed following either or both incidents.

"The decision to pursue a dangerous-dog designation relies on a number of contributing factors, including: cooperation of the victim, whether the bite meets statutory minimums (set by the state), the history of the prospective dog, the agency's responsibility to ensure public safety for citizens and other animals," Betsy Clayton, communications director for Lee County, said in an email.

Makina and Joryah say they can’t help but look at photos of Teddy and Louie and think it could have been prevented.

They tell WINK Investigates they feel things could have been handled better.

 “I felt like they should have at least taken the initiative to go out and check," Makina said. 

Animal control records show the owner of the dog was responsible and later surrendered the dog for euthanasia. WINK Investigates called and texted the owner for comment.

The owner declined to be interviewed or comment further. 

WINK Investigates will continue to update you as we learn more.