According to a police report, Honey, the pit bull, was being taken outside for a walk by its owner’s roommate and was in the elevator when a small white terrier, Pi-Pi, entered the elevator with her owner.
Honey “immediately started attacking” the small white terrier, officials said.The fight continued in the lobby, where people were unable to immediately separate the dogs.
Both individuals suffered minor hand injuries while attempting to stop the dog fight, according to police.
“While enroute to Baystate Veterinarian Emergency Room, Pi-Pi succumbed to her injuries and passed away,” responding officer Alexander Wagoner wrote in the police report obtained by the Globe.
Witnesses and other residents shared what they saw on social media.
“I witnessed some bystanders and a sobbing woman in the lobby of building #2 of Regency Plaza looking at the aftermath of a pitbull eating what I could only tell was the entrails of some sort of white spitz-type dog,” a Reddit user posted in a Providence community group Monday.
One building resident, who declined to be named, told the Globe he and his girlfriend were getting ready to take their dog out on Monday when they noticed dog feces “smeared on the carpet” of the elevator.
As the elevator descended to the lobby, they heard a large commotion, and the doors opened to a pool of blood.
“The pitbull had the other dog in its mouth refusing to let go, and its owner trying to pull at the leash to get it off,” he said.
He said they carried their own small dog quickly out of the lobby and stayed outside for about 45 minutes before police and firefighters arrived.
Regency Plaza management, reached by phone Tuesday afternoon, said they “are not giving a comment at this time.” Building residents told the Globe they did not receive any announcements from management about what had happened.
The building has a pet policy reviewed by the Globe that prohibits pit bull terriers as pets, and mandates that pets may not exceed 40 pounds and may only be kept in Building 2. No visiting pets are allowed.
This is a developing news story and will be updated.
Alexa Coultoff can be reached at alexa.coultoff@globe.com. Follow her @alexacoultoff.