The family of a Missouri man who was brutally mauled to death by a pit bull has asked locals to tone down their negative rhetoric about the breed, and instead use their anger to make a positive impact in his honor.

Tyler Brennan, 41, was returning home from work on Wednesday in Independence, about 20 minutes outside of Kansas City, when his roommate's pit bull suddenly attacked him. 

The pit bull, named Bruce, sadly killed Brennan and was shot dead by Independence Police Department (IPD) officers after they responded to the scene. 

Brennan's unexpected death has sparked a debate in the community, with many taking aim at pit bulls, a controversial dog breed known for its potential aggressive tendencies. 

But Brennan's family said they want the beloved father's death to act as a way for locals to create change, not division, after many took to social media blaming the way the dog was raised and the breed's genetics for the deadly attack. 

'All the people that have been getting on there making comments about pit bulls, making comments about IPD, making comments in general about what we should do,' Stephen Burton, the longtime boyfriend of Carla Jones, Brennan's mother, told FOX4 News. 

He added: 'I know what we are going to do – and the simple answer is we are going to remember Tyler for who he was, and we are going to do it with respect.' 

Burton said he would love to see locals come together and create an educational program for people looking to adopt a dog breed known to have dangerous tendencies.

'Bottom line is: let’s do this the right way. Let’s not upset a group of people who have a group of dogs, and let’s get a program going to educate people on dogs' behaviors,' he said. 

Burton also shed light on the relationship Brennan had with his roommate's pet, adding that the dog attacked one of his owners before, he told WKRC. 

'Tyler played with him all the time, played ball with him all the time,' he told the outlet, adding that Brennan's two housemates were his 'best friends.' 

'We aren't into destroying another life,' Burton stated. 

Despite being told to sue the dog's owner and even the police for shooting and killing the pit bull, Burton said his girlfriend's family is not interested in causing more of a stir. 

Upset locals have also suggested that the family take action against the city because it lifted a breed-specific ban in 2023. 

The ban directly targeted pit bulls, but it was changed to a dangerous dog ordinance that focuses on behavior instead of the breed of the dog. 

Burton hopes he and Brennan's family can work with city leaders to create a program that will help others be better equipped when dealing with aggressive dog breeds. 

He told FOX4 News that he plans to meet with the mayors of Independence and nearby Lee's Summit after the election in April to further discuss his idea. 

Burton said he is also open to chatting with Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas about it. 

Brennan leaves behind his mother, his brother Matt, countless friends, and his 13-year-old daughter Brylee. 

After learning about what happened to her father, the teenager left the message 'I love you' on his phone, Jones told WKRC. 

'She’s having a really hard time. She cried herself to sleep. She's going to miss her daddy,' Jones added. 

The Daily Mail contacted the city of Independence for comment on the attack and information on the decision to lift the breed-specific ban years back.