Dead Pit Bull’s Owner Seeks Compensation

The way David Pedraza sees it, the Oxnard man who stabbed his pit bull Kahuna to death during a dogfight was in the wrong and should be willing to compensate him for the loss of the 2-year-old dog.

“He had no reason to kill my dog,” Pedraza said about Abraham Rodkin, who used a butcher knife Wednesday to end a fight between Kahuna and Rodkin’s 10-year-old mixed spaniel named Kulo.

He blamed the bloody incident on Rodkin for allowing Kulo to roam the neighborhood without a leash, and said his nephew, Anthony Pedraza, halted the fight before Rodkin ran outside waving the knife.

“He was yelling about his wife being attacked and waving the knife around, and my nephew got scared and let go of Kahuna,” Pedraza said Friday.

Pedraza emphasized that his dog was on a leash when Rodkin’s dog approached him on the playground of Emily Ritchen Elementary School, and said his nephew tried but was unable to restrain Kahuna when the pit bull ran after Kulo.

Pedraza said he questioned Rodkin Thursday about the dog bites Rodkin received trying to break off the fight between the two dogs. After asking Rodkin to compensate him for the loss of Kahuna, Pedraza said both men planned to consult attorneys before speaking again next week.

“I’d rather not go to court. I’d rather be a nice guy,” said Pedraza. He said he had a bill of sale showing that he paid $900 for Kahuna two years ago and said he did not want to sue for any other damages.

“He was a very playful dog,” Pedraza said. “I just want to see my dog replaced.”