Redmond veteran mourns dog killed by off-leash dog; now, she wants answers

'This has to matter. Tucker has to matter.'

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Retracing her steps, Army and Air Force veteran Debra Slade on Monday revisited where she last took her dog, 10-year-old Tucker, over the weekend, when it was fatally attacked by another dog.

Slade said her small dog was killed at American Legion Park in Redmond on Saturday while walking through the parking lot, when she said a bigger dog that was off its leash ambushed and attacked him.

She said she tried to intervene, but unfortunately couldn't stop the dog in time to save Tucker's life.

Near where the incident happened, blood could still be seen on the sidewalk.

"He killed my dog, and he didn't care -- and Tucker bled to death," Slade said

While Slade held Tucker, bystanders told her that the other dog's owner loaded the animal into his pickup truck and drove off.

Slade is now looking for answers.

"We need to find this dog, we need to find the owner," she said, tearfully. "It needs to matter. This has to matter. Tucker has to matter."

Slade has asked the police for help finding the man. She said she wants to take him to court. She also wants to see the leash law enforced.

"We have to stop this from happening," she said. "If this was a toddler, that child would be dead."

Another couple taking their dogs for a walk in the same park Monday spoke to Slade.

Pamela Cruse said they have seen dogs off of their leashes in that park as well, which concerns them, as they also own small dogs.

"Just the potential of something going bad, and it's a respect for other people to keep your dog leash," she said.