Four pit bulls mauled a security officer to death at Edinburgh 500, Chaguanas, early yesterday morning.Denise Rackal, 46, met her death shortly after 6 am on her way to work at an Housing Development Corporation site at Edinburgh 500 South.Rackal, an employee of Personal Safety and Security Training Limited (PSSTL), was walking through Flamboyant Crescent, Edinburgh 500, when she was attacked.The dogs, belonging to policeman Daryl la Pierre, pounced on her after running out of an open gate. Their bloodied paw marks were all over the road.At the La Pierre residence, a white pit bull stood at the gate with bloodied hand prints on his face, just after the owner managed to secure them. The dogs rested inside the house as residents vented their anger.
At the scene, Rackal's husband, Lionel, was inconsolable. He was also outraged by the treatment he received.Claiming he was treated like a criminal, Lionel stood on the roadway as he directed his anger towards the dog owner, seated in a heavily-tinted police vehicle."This is my wife who died and the you treating me like a bandit. I have to get justice," he demanded.In an interview, Lionel recalled the last moments with his wife."Yesterday was Mothers' Day. I cooked for her. We cuddled and slept. She told me last night she was out of money so she was not going to work but I gave her money.
"Now this morning, one of her co-workers called me and told me my wife got attacked by a pit bull. I came immediately, only to discover my wife's lifeless body covered under a sheet."When he went to speak with the dog owner he said he was treated like a prisoner and got no apology. He said he intended to take legal action.Describing his wife as loving and helpful, he said she was a genuine woman who loved to work.Their son, Chad, attends the University of the West Indies in St Augustine, while daughter, Vanna, does not live at home. Denise was married to Lionel for 23 years
La Pierre, attached to the North Eastern Division Task Force, was at work when the mauling occurred. He arrived at the scene in a police vehicle where he remained seated as residents vented their anger.An officer, who did not want to disclose his name, spoke on behalf of La Pierre, saying he wished to convey his condolences to the family.He said La Pierre also expressed his remorse for what had happened. He added that La Pierre was "shaken up by the ordeal" and could not speak at the moment.However, outraged residents said the dogs ran out after Rackal had passed the officer's property and jumped on her.
A resident said it was the sixth time the dogs had attacked residents in the area. The dogs also killed seven dogs last year, they claimed.They are calling for justice and want the dogs put to death. They also demanded the owner apologise to Denise's the family and offer as much assistance as possible.They claim dogs were being bred for sale and there were approximately 30 pit bulls, including puppies.They said they had no problem with the man rearing dogs, but they should be properly secured."There are no kennels and proper facilities for breeding," they complained.
An autopsy on Rackal body is expected to be performed today at the Forensic Sciences Complex, St James, and the family is expected to meet with senior police officials.Rackal's killing follows several recent dog attacks. One month ago, four-year-old Ezekiel Renne Cambridge was almost killed by two dogs near his Block Five, Palmiste, home.Last month a lime thief was mangled to death by two Rottweilers in San Juan while a 13-year-old Tobago girl was mauled by a pit bull while on her way home after school.Following Renne-Cambridge's attack, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan had promised to review the Dangerous Dogs Act.
