Dog Killed in Attack Outside Miami Animal Shelter

Woman devastated after her pet was mauled by an escaped dog at Miami-Dade Animal Services facility

Jan. 29, 2026 at 9:07pm

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A woman's 10-pound dog was tragically killed in an attack by a larger dog that escaped from a play area at the Miami-Dade Animal Services shelter. The incident occurred as the woman was leaving the facility with her two dogs after bringing them in for vaccines and tags.

Why it matters

This incident raises serious concerns about safety protocols and oversight at animal shelters, where the public expects their pets to be protected. The attack also highlights the potential risks to both animals and humans when proper procedures are not in place to prevent such incidents.

The details

According to the report, a roughly 70-pound American bulldog escaped from a play yard where volunteers were working with him, and the dog immediately attacked the woman's smaller 6-year-old, 10-pound dog named Toby. Despite attempts by the volunteers and shelter staff to contain the dog, Toby's injuries were too severe for the facility to treat, and he later died at an emergency veterinary hospital.

  • The incident occurred on Saturday as the woman was leaving the Miami-Dade Animal Services facility.
  • Toby, the woman's 10-pound dog, tragically died at the emergency veterinary hospital after the attack.

The players

Emily Mirabal

The owner of the 10-pound dog that was killed in the attack.

Toby

Mirabal's 6-year-old, 10-pound dog that was killed in the attack by the escaped dog.

Miami-Dade Animal Services

The animal shelter where the incident occurred and where the escaped dog was being housed.

American bulldog

The roughly 70-pound dog that escaped from the play yard and attacked Mirabal's dog.

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What they’re saying

“On my way back to my car, one of the dogs from their facility came loose and came right at me.”

— Emily Mirabal (nbcmiami.com)

“It was shocking. I didn't have words. I just shut down. I didn't know what to do. No one knew what to do. There was no protocol for what happened. No urgency.”

— Emily Mirabal (nbcmiami.com)

“It was horrible. My dog never stood a chance. My son came and took Toby to the emergency vet nearby. They tried to resuscitate him, but unfortunately, he was already gone.”

— Emily Mirabal (nbcmiami.com)

What’s next

Miami-Dade Animal Services said they are continuing to review the incident and are working to strengthen safety measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the critical need for animal shelters to have robust safety protocols in place to protect both the animals in their care and the public visiting the facility. The loss of Toby underscores the devastating consequences that can occur when proper procedures are not followed, and it is crucial that Miami-Dade Animal Services takes swift action to implement meaningful changes to prevent such heartbreaking events from happening again.