Family grieves for pet

The Revels family held a funeral for its dog Thursday, two days after the Japanese Chin was attacked by two pit bulls near the family’s Omaha home.

The dog, Aubrey, came to the defense of 5-year-old Deshawn Revels after the two pit bulls “rushed” the boy as he picked flowers Tuesday evening in the backyard of the family home at 3411 N. 42nd St., said Darrell Revels, Deshawn’s father.

Aubrey was dragged by the two dogs to a nearby garage, Revels said.

Revels’ 15-year-old daughter Elissa, who received Aubrey as a birthday present two years ago, screamed to her father, “They got her! They got her!”

Revels grabbed a handgun, fired a few shots into the air and scared the pit bulls away. They later were captured by the Nebraska Humane Society.

Humane Society officials had not identified the owners of the pit bulls as of Thursday morning, said Mark Langan, the Humane Society’s vice president for field operations.

The urn containing Aubrey’s remains will be placed on a cabinet shelf in the family’s living room.

“People don’t understand. This wasn’t just a dog,” Revels said. “I’ve been kind of depressed, going through a divorce, and my kids and Aubrey have been what is keeping me going. Every day when I came home, she jumped in my lap. She was part of the family, like one of my kids.”

As of now, the family has no plans to get a new dog.

“No dog could take Aubrey’s place,” Elissa said.

Contact the writer:

444-3120, joel.fulton@owh.com