‘A killer dog next door’: Chesterfield family demands justice after dog mauled to death
VENN
Editor's Note: This article and the attached videos contain graphic depictions of a deadly dog attack. Viewer discretion is advised.
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A Chesterfield County family is grieving the violent death of their dog, Bailey, after he was attacked and killed by their next-door neighbor's dog on Wednesday.
“We definitely lost a member of our family,” said Susan Marusco, Bailey's owner, in an exclusive interview with 8News.
Susan said she was taking out the trash at her Michaels Ridge Road home on Wednesday, May 14, while Bailey followed behind her. Moments later, a neighbor's dog, Delilah, attacked him on Susan's property.
Ring camera footage captured the harrowing moments as Susan and another neighbor attempted to pull Delilah away from Bailey.
Portion of Ring doorbell camera footage showing May 14 attack on a Chesterfield County dog. (Video: Susan Marusco)
Both adults were injured during the struggle and said they needed rabies shots.
Unfortunately, Bailey did not survive.
"I literally felt like I was fighting for my life to save that dog -- and I couldn't do it," Susan said. "We did everything we could."
Susan said the incident has taken a toll on her whole family.
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"It was like a white little rag was just moving it back and forth," said Susan's husband, Stephen Marcuso, of how Bailey looked as Delilah shook her head repeatedly while holding him in her teeth.
"I looked down in the grass, and I saw Bailey's guts," her daughter, Sophie Rose, added.
Records show Delilah's dangerous behavior began years ago
Court records obtained by 8News show that Delilah’s owner, Quinton Binns, had charges filed against him related to Delilah in both Chesterfield and Richmond, with the oldest charges dating back to 2019.
Records also show that Binns had previously been charged in Richmond with owning a dangerous dog.
In October of 2023, Binns pleaded guilty to the dangerous dog charge. However, judgment was withheld for one year on the condition that he follow this set of safety measures:
- Owner must provide documentation that the animal was neutered or spayed.
- Owner must provide documentation that the animal was implanted with electronic identification registered to the owner, and provide that to the animal control officer.
- Owner must post clearly visible signs warning people of the presence of a dangerous dog on the property at the residence where the animal is housed. The sign shall remain posted at all points of entry to the home and yard as long as the animal remains on the property.
- Owner must ensure that, when the dog is not inside a locked enclosure, it stays in the owner's residence. If it goes outdoors, it must be controlled by a physical leash employed by the responsible adult owner and securely muzzled.
- Owner must construct a secure, locked enclosure of sufficient height to prevent escape by the animal if it is kept outdoors.
- Owner must promptly notify the local animal control officer of any change in the manner of location the dog owner or the dog at any time, any instance where the animal is loose, any complaint or incident of attack or bite to a person or another dog, and any claim brought as a result of any attack.
- Unless for good cause shown, the owner must notify the animal control officer at least 10 days prior to moving or relocating the animal.
This plea agreement states that "these provisions shall be complied with throughout the defendant's ownership of the dog and not limited to the one year of deferment of these proceedings."
Despite those conditions, video from Wednesday’s attack shows Delilah was not wearing a muzzle. Marusco said she had never seen Delilah wear one.
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She also said Binns had one small warning sign on his property that was barely visible. The conditions Binns had to follow stated that it should have been at every entry point to the home and the yard.
However, the charge was dismissed in October 2024 by a Richmond Circuit Court Judge -- meaning they believed Binns had followed all conditions. Under Virginia Code, fulfillment of the conditions leads to no adjudication of a "dangerous dog," as determined by the courts.
In Virginia, it is the owner's responsibility to notify the County in which they live of "dangerous dog" judgments -- but because this charge was dropped, Susan said she had no idea how dangerous Delilah was.
"I had a killer dog next door, and there were no signs," Susan said.
Bailey, a Chesterfield County dog who was mauled to death by a neighbor's dog. (Photo: Susan Marusco)
"If we had more knowledge, we could have done something different," Stephen added.
8News tried to contact Binns by phone and by knocking on his door to get his side of the story. However, both attempts were unsuccessful.
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The Chesterfield Police Department confirmed that Delilah was removed from the property on Thursday, May 15, and is currently being held at an animal shelter while the investigation continues.
The Marusco family said they are working with a lawyer to pursue justice for Bailey and ensure that Delilah does not return to the neighborhood.
