Diablo, a beloved family pit bull, is facing euthanasia after a tragic incident resulted in the hospitalization of a 17-year-old girl. He is scheduled for execution November 2, the Day of the Dead, after his 10 day quarantine. There is also the sad fact that he is arbitrarily considered a "dangerous dog", surrendered for euthanasia, under blanket legislation that doesn't consider his unique circumstances.

While the attack was severe, leading to serious injuries that required surgery, Diablo's fate should not be sealed with a death sentence. Instead, we propose a more compassionate alternative: allow Diablo to live out his life in a sanctuary.

https://people.com/florida-teen-hospitalized-left-needing-surgery-after-family-pit-bull-dog-attack-12196219

Pit bulls often face stigma and generalization due to their breed, which can overshadow their capacity for love and loyalty. Many incidents involving pit bulls are often amplified by fear and misunderstanding, neglecting the importance of assessing individual circumstances. Diablo's situation is one of unfortunate tragedy, but it's crucial we consider the contributing factors and explore every available option that ensures safety for everyone involved.

What is so sad is this dog is not always aggressive. “He’s not like a dangerous dog. He probably isn’t going to bite. It’s probably something that just happened at the moment, but why take the risk?” says his guardian who reluctantly surrendered Diablo to Miami Dade Animal Services. The shelter didn't even want to take him as they are full. Surrendering broke Diablo's guardian's heart. It is awful that a "no kill" shelter like Miami Dade Animal Services would only offer euthanasia. This family and most of all, Diablo deserve better.

Across the United States, and particularly in regions like Florida, animal sanctuaries provide a safe haven for dogs labeled as dangerous or aggressive. These sanctuaries are staffed by professionals trained to handle dogs with behavioral issues, offering them rehabilitation and the possibility of leading a peaceful life. Transferring Diablo to such a sanctuary can prevent a permanent and irreversible decision, allowing him a chance for redemption and safety.

It is important to highlight that second chances are a reflection of our humanity and compassion. By sending Diablo to a sanctuary, we can protect our communities while also respecting animal life and welfare. It’s an opportunity to set a precedent for alternative solutions in cases involving domesticated animals and incidents of aggression.

We urge the decision-makers and authorities to reconsider the decision to euthanize Diablo. Let’s exemplify compassion and commitment to animal welfare by exploring every opportunity for rehabilitation and safety. Please add your signature to save Diablo’s life and advocate for sanctuary placement over euthanasia.

Dear Miami-Dade Animal Services Leadership and Case Review Team,

I am writing to formally request a reconsideration of the current trajectory for Diablo, the five-year-old dog currently held in your custody following the tragic incident on October 21. While the severity of the situation and the trauma experienced by the young victim are undeniable, I urge the department to pause the sequence of euthanasia to consider an alternative, compassionate resolution that balances public safety with a deeper understanding of animal welfare.
The current legal framework forces a rigid binary—categorizing an animal as either a safe domestic companion or an existential public hazard. This all-or-nothing approach reduces a living being’s entire existence to a single, tragic failure. Like humans, dogs are complex individuals shaped by genetics, environments, and unique physiological realities. Labeling Diablo entirely by his worst moment ignores the totality of his life and denies the possibility that his behavior may stem from unrecognized neurological factors.
Modern veterinary behavior science widely recognizes canine neurodivergence. Individual animals possess vastly different sensory thresholds, stress tolerances, and fight-or-flight triggers. Extreme behavioral outbursts are frequently the result of severe neurological overload or trauma responses rather than innate malice. To execute an animal for a catastrophic reaction to an environment it cannot comprehend is to punish a psychological or neurological variant with death.
Furthermore, our societal structures accommodate dangerous wild animals, such as big cats and bears, within highly secure, zero-contact sanctuaries designed around their specific safety risks. A domestic dog who cannot safely exist in standard human neighborhoods should not automatically face erasure; instead, there should be a recognized pathway to transition them to specialized, secure containment where public safety is guaranteed through strict infrastructure, rather than termination.
Diablo possesses an inherent desire to live and avoid harm, yet he is entirely silenced by a legal system that treats him as property without agency or representation. I ask Miami-Dade Animal Services to step beyond the standard bureaucratic mandates and look at this case through the lens of modern behavioral science and ethical stewardship. Please allow a certified veterinary behaviorist to evaluate Diablo, and consider opening a pathway for a specialized, secure sanctuary placement that completely eliminates public risk while preserving a life.
Thank you for your time, your consideration, and your dedication to the complex challenges of animal welfare in our community.

Dave Duchak

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