Archived News

by Bryan Fazio

Rebecca Carey never would have expected this.

On Aug. 12 Carey was found dead, killed by multiple dog bites, according to DeKalb County police.

The 23-year old Decatur woman and Georgia Perimeter College student had loved dogs her life. She worked at Loving Hands Animal Clinic in Alpharetta as a veterinarian technician trainee, volunteered at both the DeKalb and Gwinnett County Animal Control offices. Carey, who had been involved with animal charities since she was 13, owned five dogs and was always eager to care for more.

Around the time of her death, Carey was dog sitting a friend’s Presa, a larger dog breed, adding to her own pets of two pit bulls, a boxer and a Presa, making the total five dogs in her home the day she died.

According to DeKalb Police spokeswoman Mekka Parish, around 10:44 a.m. on Aug. 12, police discovered Carey dead in her home and believed it to be a homicide.

However, after further investigation and an autopsy, results showed that the injuries were the result of bite wounds.

According to Parish, the number of bites were not known and “a determination could not be made as to which dog was involved.”

With none of the dogs being exonerated from the attack, none could meet the criteria to be fostered or adopted and all five of the dogs were euthanized on Aug. 15.

“Once they came back with the cause, animal control had to euthanize them,” Parish said.

According to the National Canine Research Council, from 1965 to 2011 there were 36 dog-related fatalities in Georgia, with 10 different breeds reportedly involved in the accidents. Among the 36 deaths, only nine were adults.

Carey was laid to rest Saturday at Floral Hills Cemetery.

One story of Carey’s love for animals and their effect on people was posted on the Loving Hands Animal Clinic’s Facebook page by Mia Frederiksen.

It reads, “Rebecca’s love for animals went international. She helped rescue my very special beagle boy, my Bailey Butterbean, and get him to me in Canada. She was only 15 at the time. Without her I would never have had the chance to love my beautiful angel boy. I will never forget her.”

The Loving Hands Animal Clinic has set up a fund in her name. All donations are to be used to support Angels Among Us, one of the organizations Carey worked with since working at Loving Hands.