MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- Two dogs died in a fight Saturday, leaving their owners at one another’s throats.
According to Middletown police, authorities responded to a disturbance call Saturday afternoon. The caller, Mollie Watkins, had described her neighbor, Gregory Orona, as having kicked in her door and killed her dog. Police arrived on the scene and found Watkins’ home undamaged, and she continued to claim that Orona had attacked her dog.
Orona described the incident differently. He said he had been playing in his backyard with his own dog, Scout.
“The neighbor’s dog came flying through the side yard, it grabbed (Scout) by the throat and started shaking it," he said. "I hit the dog in the head and I killed it. I was very sorry for that, I did not want to do that, but that’s what happened."
According to the police report, Orona told police he had tried to separate the dogs but was bitten in the process and had no choice but to kill the attacking animal. The officer who responded to the call noted blood on both Scout and Orona in the report.
Orona said he had agreed not to press charges against Watkins for allowing her dog to run free if she would pay the medical fee to treat the injuries on Scout’s rapidly swelling neck.
But when the bill arrived, Orona said, Watkins did not respond to his requests for payment. Scout died shortly after a checkup at the emergency veterinarian.
Nothing can help Scout now, but Orona said he was disappointed by Watkins’ non-response.
"Words can go a long ways," Orona said. “For the lady to come over and say ‘I’m sorry’ would have made a tremendous difference."
Watkins did not respond to requests for comment. The Butler County dog warden said Watkins has been charged with first offense dangerous dog at large, which is a misdemeanor. She will appear in Middletown Municipal Court at 1:30 p.m. Oct 6.
