LOS ANGELES, CA — Animal advocates and shelter volunteers are trying to save a 5-year-old pit bull named Precious from being euthanized next week as a vicious dog, hoping Los Angeles County authorities will allow her live out her days at a nonprofit sanctuary in Washington.

Precious has spent more than a year kenneled in an animal shelter for allegedly biting and severely injuring a dog-sitter. Her owners say it was another dog, Miley, one of Precious' two pups, who bit the man, who they allege mistreated the animals. The victim of the attack told authorities that when a smoke alarm went off in the motel room where the dogs were staying, "Precious lunged at me and bit my throat" before the other two dogs, her 3-year-old pups named Miley and Grumpy, also attacked.

But a transcript of an earlier hearing provided to City News Service includes contradictory testimony about whether a witness to the attack saw two or all three dogs attacking the man. County authorities declared all three vicious and potentially dangerous, a designation that allows them to euthanize animals to protect the public.

Animal advocates and volunteers at the Baldwin Park Shelter, however, describe Precious as gentle and friendly and have gathered more than 1,970 signatures of support online. "There's not a mean bone in her body," animal advocate Jul Dee told City News Service. "We know dogs pretty well."

Despite being isolated in a cage since August 2017, Precious remains sweet and happy to get attention, according to Dee and other volunteers, who contradict statements by an animal control officer that she is aggressive.

The dog's owners and others became emotional while pleading their case to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

"I don't feel she's at all aggressive," Tanaya Mang told the board. "I'm not the one that fights for every impossible dog. But I feel that she deserves a chance." Dee said, "It would be unconscionable to destroy a dog so beloved by so many workers when there's humane alternatives offered. We're here to implore that you let Precious live."