Isle of Wight County, Va. - A tearful Dana Brewer hurried out of Isle of Wight County General District court Thursday right past NewsChannel 3 after a judge ordered her family's dogs be taken away.
Her mother, Celine Fulmore, on-the-other hand, didn't hold back her feelings about what just took place inside.
"You've been to my home," Fulmore said to NewsChannel 3's Jackie Morlock. "You know my dogs are not mean and vicious. What happened to that dog my heart goes out to them. I'd rather it have been me than their dog."
The judge didn't make a final ruling yet; he'll do that next week. But in the meantime, he ordered Fulmore and Brewer's three dogs be removed from their home and taken into the custody of animal control.
"I'm glad that the judge was as surprised as I was that they hadn't been taken until something was decided," Cynthia Rowland says.
Rowland's neighbor, Imeleta Wright, witnessed the attack on her daughter's dog Shadow.
The county attorney showed pictures of the 10-year-old's dog disemboweled after it happened.
Wright emotionally testified before the judge explaining that she saw Fulmore and Brewer's three dogs viciously tearing at Shadow last month as the animal lie helpless on the ground.
"What makes me angry right now is their reaction. It's like they don't know how they make dog owners look bad," Wright said following the court hearing.
On behalf of Rowland, the county attorney recommended the judge deem the dogs dangerous. Doing that allows Fulmore and Brewer to keep their dogs but requires them to comply with the state's dangerous dog registry.
Any dogs deemed vicious would be put down. Something Rowland doesn't want.
"I just want to know that they're going to take seriously that they need to keep those dogs confined," says Rowland.
The decision is ultimately up to the judge. Before ruling, he wanted to give Fulmore and Brewer time to review the dangerous dog guidelines they would need to meet. That hearing is set for next week.
Meanwhile, animal control will go by Fulmore's home Friday to take the dogs into custody until then.
"To railroad my animals and to do what they're doing to them for no reason is not right it's not fair," Fulmore says.
Previous stories:
Taking Action: IOW girl surprised by new companion after dog killed in vicious attack
Isle of Wight family’s dog killed after a vicious attack by neighboring dogs
IOW dog owners charged in vicious attack
