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Posted By: Bruce Dorskind

Authorities euthanize pit bulls after fatal W. Knox mauling


Four pit bull dogs connected with the fatal mauling of a 21-year-old woman have been euthanized.

The 3-year-old female Passion Maria and three pups about 5 months old were chemically euthanized Friday, according to Tim Adams, director of the Young-Williams Animal Shelter.

Charles Smallwood, who owned the dogs involved in the Nov. 12 mauling, opted on Friday to surrender the dogs to authorities, said David Head, director of Knox County's Animal Control unit. Smallwood, 25, came to the animal shelter to waive his ownership of the animals.

"He made them our property," Adams said. "We euthanized them that afternoon."

Smallwood could have appealed to the Knox County Health Department the "vicious" designation attached to the four animals by animal control officials. Instead he opted to surrender the animals.