Detroit City Council Passes Resolution To Toughen Laws On Vicious Dogs

DETROIT (WWJ)  - Emotions were high in the Detroit City Council chambers -- as the mother of a young boy attacked and killed by four pit bulls last month was presented with a resolution to toughen laws on vicious dogs.

Lucille Strickland's son, four-year-old Xavier, was dragged under a fence by the dogs and killed while his mother watched in horror.

Detroit City Councilwoman Brenda Jones read and then presented the resolution to Strickland reports WWJ City Beat reporter Vickie Thomas.

Strickland fought back tears as she talked about her son.

"But I'll try to be there for the rest of my children and to all the parents out there - this should be an example to you all - how to be more loving to your children and careful because truly, he's an angel," she said.

Through tears she spoke of her son and how he touched so many lives in just a few short years.

"I would like to thank everyone for supporting us and being there because, a four-year old boy has changed the world."

On December 2 Strickland was walking with her son on Bayliss Street near the Lodge Freeway and Linwood when the dogs attacked.

A neighbor, Yolanda Samuels, described the terrifying scene that day.

She called 911 after hearing the boy's mother's cries.

"One of (the dogs) grabbed the baby from her and drug the baby under the fence," Samuels told WWJ's Stephanie Davis. "The dogs started mauling on the baby, and when we came out — we were getting ready to go somewhere — she said, 'Miss Lala, they've got my baby!'"