2 dogs recovering after being attacked by ‘wolf-dog’ in Miami Beach

MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Two dogs are now recovering after being viciously attacked by what police are calling a “wolf-hybrid” dog in Miami Beach.

Three-year-old border collie Sasha is still in the hospital following the attack in the Normandy Isle neighborhood on Sunday night.

Meanwhile, 1-year-old Gus the pug was released from Knowles Animal Hospital in Miami, Tuesday.

Both pups have stitches stretching across their bodies.

Doug Kincaid was out walking Sasha in the 1500 block of 71st Street at the time of the attack.

“It was as if we were in the wilderness. It was like a wild animal came charging out of the neighborhood,” he said.

Kincaid said he saw the wolf-dog darting across the street. Surveillance cameras were only able to capture a blurry streak zipping across the frame.

Amy Seagle, Gus’ owner, said she doesn’t want anything bad to happen to the hybrid animal, but she doesn’t believe it belongs in the neighborhood.

“I actually have no ill will towards the animal at all. I think she was just doing what came naturally to her: hunting, roaming,” said Seagle. “I don’t think that they should be in an area like that or tried to be domesticated, which is the problem.”

Seagle said she felt helpless while having to fight off the wolf-dog to save Gus.

“The noises that came out of him were out of this world,” said Seagle. “After she was done, I couldn’t breathe. I was terrified.”

The animal that residents are calling a “wolf-dog” hybrid is called Eva. She is one of two hybrid dogs that were living at a home on Biarritz Drive, according to animal trainer Luca Lavieri.

Lavieri, who said he lives at the house, said Eva, who is featured with another dog on the Instagram page “Wolf Free Spirit,” belongs to his girlfriend.

According to Lavieri, Eva has since been moved out of the state.

“She’s already gone from there, and she’s gone for good,” he said in a phone call with 7News. “She’s never going to be back there.”

Residents in the area want to make sure the dogs will never return.

“We have kids, we have small pets, and we’re all concerned and worried,” said neighbor Marcelo Baird.

Miami Beach residents gathered for a community meeting on the issue, Tuesday night.

“If you have ever, ever witnessed a wild animal trying to kill your little pet while you have it on a leash, I think your attitude would be just a little bit different,” said a resident at the meeting.

“I had a face to face. I had to run from him,” added Baird at the meeting. “How can I live given that he’s like two houses from my house?”

During the meeting, Miami Beach Police told residents the owners have been cited but that Miami-Dade Animal Services will now be handling the case.

“I think Miami Beach could be more involved. I think they just don’t want to, but I think that’s the truth,” said Karen Bromberg, a concerned resident.

“We know that these things are dangerous, and our neighborhood is in danger,” added another resident at the meeting.

Lavieri posted on social media that he and his girlfriend are heartbroken over what happened. He added that they’re working to find a sanctuary that will take in the hybrid dogs.

“I don’t want anything bad to happen to her, but if it’s becoming a problem, she shouldn’t be around,” said Seagle.

Meanwhile, officials with Miami-Dade Animal Services have launched a dangerous dog investigation.

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