Dog injured after meat cleaver attack

CRESTVIEW, Fla. (WALA) - Natalie Horn and her stepchildren Sebastian and Kayleigh Williams are animal lovers.

In the afternoon, you can catch them playing with their dogs, Tinkerbell and Harley, outside their Crestview home.

But, one canine was missing Friday, a 2-year-old pit bull named Silver.

“He’s wonderful," Horn said. "They say bulldogs, or pit bulls are vicious, but he’s actually a very good dog.”

But Thursday, Horn came home to the unthinkable.

“It’s something I probably won’t never recover from," Horn said.

According to a report by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, a neighbor’s dog got lose and began fighting with Silver. That neighbor, 38-year-old Martin McDonald, tried to break it up, but was unable to.

Shawn Spencer, 31, then handed McDonald a meat cleaver and said “try this.“

Deputies said McDonald struck Silver at least four times in his neck and back, causing lacerations six inches wide and three inches deep.

“I wonder if I would have been here, if I could have prevented it from happening," Horn said.

When authorities arrived on-scene, they said they found Silver tied to Horn’s mailbox.

Neighbors in the area said that McDonald tied Silver up, muttered ‘he’s going to die now’ and then just walked away.

On Friday afternoon, nearly 24 hours and one rainstorm later, Silver’s blood still stains Magnolia Lane.

“I haven’t been able to sleep. The kids haven’t been able to sleep. It’s been a roller coaster; just, it’s been a really hard time for us," Horn said.

Two doors down, FOX10 News tried to get a comment from the owner of the other dog. Our request for an interview was declined.

As for Silver, Friday evening he was reported to be out of surgery and resting. Barring complications, he should recover just fine.

The Panhandle Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) shelter in Ft. Walton Beach is accepting donations to go towards the care and recovery of the dog. To donate, call (850) 243-1525 or visit www.paws-shelter.com .