East Alabama husband grieves wife killed by neighbor's Cane Corso dogs

Yahoo

26-02-2025

BEULAH, Ala. (WRBL) – A Beulah man is mourning the loss of his wife after she was attacked and killed by her neighbor's dogs along Lee Road 356 near the backwaters of Lake Harding
Thomas Burt says he and his wife, Patricia Burt, 78, were inseparable for 35 years, spending every moment together. Now, he is left struggling to process the tragedy that took her life.
'She was a good person. She was my friend, my best buddy. We spent every waking minute together. I loved her so much,' Burt told WRBL's Elizabeth White in an emotional interview.
Thomas and Patricia first met at work. After their first date at a Halloween party, Thomas knew she was the one. Their bond only grew stronger over the years.
'Stayed together 35 years—back and forth every day, never missed a minute of trying to be with one another. She was a good woman. I don't know what I'm gonna do without her,' he said.
On Monday, February 24, Patricia was visiting her neighbor's mother, who was housesitting for her son. As the two women hugged hello, the son's two Cane Corso dogs suddenly escaped their enclosure and attacked Patricia.
The attack was so vicious Thomas had no choice but to act. Desperately trying to save his wife, he shot both dogs. Patricia was rushed to the hospital, but despite all efforts, she died the next day.
'Just pray for me that I am going to get through this,' Thomas pleaded.
WRBL spoke with David Kelley, the owner of the Cane Corsos, who breeds the dogs at his home along Lake Harding. Though he declined an on-camera interview, he told WRBL over the phone he is heartbroken over the loss of his neighbor and is fully cooperating with the investigation.
Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones confirms there were prior complaints about the dogs harming other animals who walked onto the property, but no reports of them attacking people or getting out of their property. Despite his unimaginable loss, Thomas Burt does not blame his neighbor for what happened.
'Couldn't ask for a better neighbor than David. Wasn't his fault. It was the dogs' fault,' he said.
As the investigation continues, Thomas is left trying to pick up the pieces of a life that will never be the same.
'We had a lot of good years together—it's hard to think about,' he said.
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