A Stockbridge man said his 7-year-old Yorkie was mauled and killed by a neighbor's pit bull during a Sunday morning walk. The man then shot the larger dog several times, killing it. Credit: Channel 2 Action News Credit: Channel 2 Action News

Izell Granville, the owner of the pit bull, said he bought Champ for his son about five years ago. He said he regrets that the dog escaped from his family’s yard, but doesn’t believe Williams should have shot and killed it.

“This is not the case of a negligent owner. This is not the case of a vicious dog,” he said. “It’s understandable for him to be mad but we still have to have some type of restraint.”

Williams said it was “only a matter of time” before the pit bull attacked a child in the neighborhood.

Animal control said it cited Granville’s relatives with public nuisance and failure to restrain the dog since they were looking after the pit bull at the time, Channel 2 reported.

Stockbridge councilman Elton Alexander said Sunday’s attack, which was in his neighborhood, has prompted him to introduce a “vicious dog ordinance” calling for hefty fines for dog owners whose pets get out and attack people or other animals.

“We’ll put the onus on responsible dog ownership,” Alexander said Thursday. “We want the dog owners to be responsible (and) we want them to be held accountable ... You have to understand that could have been a child. That could have been my granddaughter.”

The pit bull Williams shot is being tested for rabies, authorities said.