Edward Cahill of Portage, Indiana was killed by his pit bull Fat Boy after giving the dog a rawhide bone as a Christmas present, stated Portage County coroner Chuck Harris. Cahill’s wife, Bianca Rodriguez, returned home the afternoon of December 25 to find him in a pool of blood on the couple’s living room floor, with puncture bite marks on his arms and face. The couple’s other dog was locked in a bedroom and did not take part in the attack on Cahill.

Responding officers were forced to subdue the animal by Taser and it was later euthanized. Cahill, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to Rodriguez’s statements to police, Fat Boy had a tendency to become unpredictable and aggressive, especially when he had a bone or chew toy in his mouth, and had bitten both Cahill and Rodriguez’s son in the past. Fearing for the safety of her family and others, she had previously told Cahill to have the dog euthanized.

Rodriguez and Cahill’s son William speak warmly of him and his support of his four children in the face of their tragic loss. “He was always proud of every one of our accomplishments,” recalled William, citing his father’s recollections of his grandfather’s heroism in Korea and Vietnam as motivation for joining the Marine Corps after graduation.

“He was a great man. He was my best friend, my rock and he loved his four kids,” added Bianca.

The Christmas tragedy renews the debate over pit bull ownership – Cahill’s death is the latest in a string of publicized deaths and injuries of pit bull owners attacked by their pets. Sean-Patrick Hillman, president and co-founder of Rock and Rawhide, a non-profit organization that collects toys and finds homes for shelter dogs and cats, is a strong advocate for pit bulls. “[Wife and co-founder Kylie Edmond and I] have two rescue pits in our home that also serve as Rock & Rawhide mascots.  Many pits end up in shelters because they are optimal for fight rings due to their protective nature and incredible strength. [However], pit bulls are one of the most loyal and loving breeds, and in our experience no more or less naturally aggressive than any other breed.“

The incident is under investigation by the Portage Police Department.

“This is a very tragic incident,” said Portage Police Department Chief Troy Williams. “It’s not something we see too often.”