Pit bull killed in Georgia PetSmart store during adoption event

A pit bull trying to get adopted was instead euthanized after the owner of a dog she attacked stabbed her inside a Georgia PetSmart.

The Newnan-Coweta Humane Society announced on its Facebook pageMonday afternoon it made the "very difficult decision" to euthanize the foster dog Clara who was attacked at an adoption event at the store in Newnan on Sunday.

"Her injuries were more extensive than the vet originally thought. We did not want her to suffer anymore and ultimately die in the presence of strangers," the statement from the organization's Board of Directors read. "She was surrounded by love and no longer is in pain or suffering. We did what we thought was best for Clara under the circumstances — not because she was a liability or the cost of treatment."

The organization held an adoption event at the pet store Sunday afternoon in hopes of finding its animals a new home.

You can't just walk into a floor and stab a dog in front of families and children.

But Clara attacked a young dog - biting her in the neck. The Westie's owner Craig Emory then started fighting Clara and ultimately stabbed her several times with a pocket knife, witnesses told TV Station WXIA.

"It didn't look like the dogs were even fighting, but (Emory) was pummeling the dog saying 'effing pit bull, how are you still around' and 'effing pit bull this and that,' then I realized he wasn't punching the dog. He was stabbing it," witness Mike Wohler told the station.

The Westie dog did suffer some injuries but should recover, the humane society reported.

WXIAClara the pit bull was stabbed during an adoption event held at a Newnan PetSmart by the Newnan-Coweta Humane Society.

Police in Newnan are investigating the matter and told the Daily News no charges have been filed at this time.

Wohler's fiancée Teresa Reeves said she believes charges should be brought against Emory. She said the owner cursed at Clara while attacking her.

"You can't just walk into a floor and stab a dog in front of families and children,"she told the station. "The people who work in that store could have easily gotten those dogs apart from each other."