Judge decides pit bulldog that attacked woman should be euthanized

A Jasper County judge has decided a pit bulldog that attacked a woman and bit her face last month should be euthanized.

Judge Ratcliff decided in a hearing this morning the dog should be euthanized immediately.

Patricia Sorensen was attacked by the dog on February 17 while she was walking up to the Belli Deli just South of Kirbyville.

Sorensen and her husband own the deli.

Sorensen told us in an interview yesterday, the owner of the dog, Ricky Byrd worked for her husband and often brought the dog to work, but left it in his truck.

On February 17, she says he asked his wife, Amanda Byrd, to take the dog and the truck home and he would call her to pick him up from work.

Sorensen says Amanda Byrd left and came back to the restaurant. She says Byrd brought the dog inside the deli.  The dog was on a leash.

As Sorensen approached the door to the deli, the dog lunged at her and bit her twice.

Since the attack, Sorensen has had several operations to repair the damage from the bites.

Judge Ratcliff says the Byrd's didn't contest her decision.

Sorensen says neither Amanda nor Ricky Byrd offered an apology to her at the hearing.