Updated 19.05 | Published 18.59
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full screen Pepsi was one year and ten months. Photo: Private
Angelica and the dog Pepsi’s evening walk ended in tragedy.
A few meters outside the front door, an untethered fighting dog attacked and Pepsi’s life could not be saved.
– There should be some type of driver’s license to have a dog. Anyone should not be allowed to be a dog owner, says Angelica Cartagena Melin.
At 22.00 on Thursday evening in Alvesta, Angelica Cartagena Melin went out with the dog Pepsi to go for a last walk before bedtime.
Outside the front door, she saw a man and an off-leash dog a few meters away. A mixed breed of the amstaff type.
As soon as the dog saw Pepsi, it took a leap forward and bit hard on the neck.
– I didn’t have time to react, everything happened so quickly, says Angelica.
She tried to tear the Pepsi off and called out to the other dog owner to help. After a while, she managed to separate the dogs and Pepsi ran out towards a road.
– But the dog was faster than me and caught the Pepsi. It got a new grip on the neck. After that, my memories become very blurry.
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fullscreen Pepsi died after being attacked by another dog. Photo: Private
Didn’t let go of the neck
The roommate Lucas Hedlund was cooking when he heard a shrill beeping and screaming outside the house. He understood at once that something very bad was going on.
– I rushed out immediately and came out just as the dog had got hold of the Pepsi again. I tried to push the dog’s jaws to the side and hit everything I could, but it was too strong, says Lucas.
Several passing neighbors joined in to help, and when the dog finally let go, Pepsi collapsed in a bloody mess on the street.
Lucas quickly jumped into a neighbor’s car and was rushed to the animal hospital with Pepsi’s nearly lifeless body.
– I thought he was still alive in the car because I could feel his breath. When we arrived, they started CPR, but it was too late. The medical staff determined quite quickly that he had died, says Lucas.
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full screenAngelica and Lucas. Photo: Private
Still in shock
There was not much sleep for either Lucas or Angelica during the night of Friday.
– We have had the TV on and tried not to be reminded of the terrible thing that happened. We have removed his things because it hurts too much to see them, Angelica says and sighs.
Lucas agrees.
– I haven’t slept yet. I don’t think I’ll sleep tonight either. I’m probably still in shock.
In recent times, several other similar incidents have taken place where dogs have been killed. Both Lucas and Angelica believe that some type of regulation should be introduced to prevent tragedies like this.
The event that also Smålandsposten reported on, is reported to the police, but so far Angelica and Lucas do not know more than that the County Administrative Board has started an investigation. They receive support from their loved ones to get through the immediate piles of shock and grief.
– We really don’t want anyone else to have to feel the way we do. It just shouldn’t be allowed to happen, says Lucas.