Connie Cordova said her two-year-old dog Mercedes was mauled to death by two of her neighbor’s dogs, both pit bulls, as she watched, helpless.

Cordova says she let Mercedes outside around 6 p.m. on Saturday. Cordova says she was in her bathroom getting ready to go to a restaurant with family, when suddenly she heard screams and whimpers that sounded like her dog.

She said she ran to her window and saw her fence had been broken through by two dogs, and that the pit bulls began attacking Mercedes.

“The black one had her by the neck, the brown one had her by her back legs,” Cordova said. “By the time I made it outside, the black one would not let Mercedes go, he just kept shaking her like a rag doll and he wouldn’t stop.”

Cordova reported the incident to Lafayette Police on Saturday and Animal Control on Monday. She said officers with Animal Control arrived at her neighbor’s residence early Monday morning and took custody of the pit bulls.

“I went out this morning and filled out a report for vicious animals, and showed them pictures of my dog, what they did with her,” Cordova said. “Animal Control came out this morning to issue a citation and pick the pitbulls up.”

She says her entire family is heartbroken over the loss of Mercedes. She describes her as a gentle dog, who brought joy, comfort and unconditional love to everyone she came across.

“She was their best friend, she’d kiss the kids, and she’d hug you, like a human being,” Cordova said. “I always had good times with her, she traveled with us wherever she went and now I have nobody.”

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