Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Cat mauled to death by pit bull

Police say when they arrived at 22 Emma Ave. just before 2:30 p.m. — in response to a call of a pit bull having killed a cat — they observed a brown pit bull dog lying beside the house.

The cat’s 35-year-old owner, described as extremely distraught, was waiting for police in front of the house along with several neighbors.

The owner told cops that she and her husband were in their yard around the corner on Norman Avenue when they noticed the dog on their property and tried to guide him out.

But she said as the dog was walking down their driveway it noticed the family’s 18-month-old cat, who she said was deaf, lying in the mulch bed. The dog allegedly grabbed the cat, mauled it and carried it back to the
Emma Street house.

The owner told cops she tried kicking the dog, and that neighbors also tried helping her, but that the pit bull would not release the cat from its jaws.

The police report states that as an officer spoke to the woman, the dog stood up and slowly made its way to the fence where they were talking. The officer says at that point he administered a short burst of pepper spray to deter the animal from any further attack.

Police said according to the city’s Assistant animal Control Officer Chuck Mosher, as well as several neighbors and even the dog’s owner, this wasn’t the first time the dog had killed a cat in the area.

The dog reportedly was taken to the Taunton animal shelter by Mosher in lieu of a decision either to return it to the owner or have it put down.

Police said they confirmed the cat was deceased and were told by the owner that she would personally bury her pet.

There have been three other reported incidents during the past nine months of a pit bull dog or dogs attacking other animals.

In May, a pit bull reportedly attacked and bit a 20-pound mixed-breed terrier being walked on a leash by its owner. In October 2010 police said two pit bulls mauled a golden retriever confined to its owners’ property, resulting in a vet bill of $3,700.

Also in October, police said a pit bull severely damaged a 15-pound Bichon Shi Tzu being walked by its owner in Weir Village.

(Taunton Gazette - June 27, 2011)