A Volusia County couple is pushing for tougher laws after their two dogs were attacked and killed by two of their neighbor’s dogs inside their home.

  • Police: Dogs jumped fence, broke into house through doggy door
  • Dogs killed Grimes family dogs Boots and Buck
  • The Grimes believe laws should be changed

Other neighbors’ complaints months before the attack had already prompted Holly Hill city officials to fine the dogs’ owner after the city determined the pit bulls were dangerous.

Marilyn Grimes said her dogs, Boots and Buck, have helped carry her through some difficult times.

“I had a lot of deaths in my family the last couple of years, and without my dogs, they gave comfort like a person couldn’t,” said Grimes.

But Grimes won’t have that comfort for what she’s dealing with now. She says when her husband came home from work Wednesday, he found both of the couple’s dogs dead. Their chihuahua, Buck, was in the backyard. The couple’s border collie, Boots, was later found in the bathroom.

“He noticed the bathroom door was closed, which is strange because it’s in the hallway, and he tried to open up the door and this huge dog jumped out to try to bite him,” said Grimes.

The Grimes’ backyard backs up to their neighbor’s backyard. They said the two dogs that attacked were able to jump over an eight-foot wooden fence before jumping over their shorter fence. Once into their backyard, they said the two dogs were able to squeeze their way into a doggy door in the back of their home.

“Who would ever think to come home from work and see two pit bulls in the bathroom, who had come in through the doggy door,” said Grimes.

Documents released by the Holly Hill Police Department show neighbors had previously called police to complain about the two pit bulls getting into their backyards. 

In September, a neighbor was bitten by one of the dogs and had to get treatment at the hospital.  In early November the city of Holly Hill notified the dogs’ owner, Christina Speicher, the city considered the dogs dangerous. 

On November 23, the city notified Speicher they were fining her for not keeping the dogs in a secure area where they couldn’t get out. That safeguard is one of several requirements the city has for dogs it has deemed dangerous.

We tried reaching out to Speicher on Thursday evening, but she wasn’t home and didn’t answer her phone.

“They said something horrific had to happen before they could put those dogs down, so literally my dogs had to die for them to put those dogs down,” said Grimes.

“And I think those laws need to change.”

Grimes said she and her husband don’t even know if they can stay in their home anymore because of the horrific way they lost their beloved pets.

“They’re like my rocks, and now I don’t have them anymore,” said Grimes. “Memories are all we have right now, very good memories.”

The dogs involved in the attack are now with the city of Holly Hill. City officials said their owner released custody and signed euthanasia forms for both animals.