BOYNE CITY, MI -- Losing a family pet is not easy to cope with.

For one Charlevoix County woman, she says watching a neighbor's dog attack her dog and kill it right in front of her eyes traumatized her.

We talked to the dog victim’s owner and learned what has happened since the attack that has created major concern for her.

Brenda Lamb says August 10th was a nightmare, a horror that happened right on the patio of her Boyne City home.

“The dog would grab Chica in his mouth, and shake, and kind of readjust her in his teeth, and shake," explained an emotional Lamb.

Lamb, her boyfriend, and her three kids, watched a neighbor's dog ripping away at five year-old chained up Chihuahua named Chica, and before they could get her away, she was dying.

“She was just looking up at me, there was nothing I could do.  It wasn't even a thought of trying to get her to a vet or anything, I just wanted to hold her let her know I was there," said Lamb.

She was in shock.  She called the police and the owner was cited for his dog running at large.  After a few days of coping with her loss, she said she had to do more and took it to court and prepared for a show-cause hearing.

The Michigan Dog Bite Statute {MCL 287.322} (3) says, "After a hearing, the magistrate or court shall order the destruction of the animal, at the expense of the owner, if the animal is found to be a dangerous animal that caused serious injury or death to a person or a dog."

But the case never made it in front of a judge.

“It doesn't make sense.  The law is supposed to be there to protect us, and it's not doing that right now," said Lamb.

According to court records, Jim Raber owns Sonny, the dog accused in the deadly attack. What’s raising questions about justice is that Raber is also the Charlevoix County Friend of the Court.  Raber's punishment came in the form a deal struck with the Charlevoix County Prosecuting Office.

Stipulations were Raber must find a new home for sonny, needs to advise the new owners of what happened, the dog can't live in Boyne City city limits, and Raber can't have him at his residence.

Raber watched the attack according to court documents and in his statement to police said, "I saw no sign of aggression at anytime during this incident."

“The dog is a killer," said Lamb.  “It shouldn't be we're going to pick and choose when we're going to make people abide by the laws and pick and choose how we want to interpret the law."

To try to get the other side of the story, I stopped by the Charlevoix County Building.  Jim Raber said he had nothing to say.  And as far as the prosecutor's office, no one was available for comment.

Lamb says she will continue to fight this fight.

She's not suing for damages, but says she feels she must bring attention to this to protect anyone who comes into contact with the dog.

She was told the dog is currently at a farm somewhere.

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