OREGON -- A couple is hoping for justice after they say a pair a pit bulls vicously attacked and killed their cat.
Lillian Knight and her husband woke up in the middle of the night around 4:30 AM last week to loud barking.
"I had never heard it that loud," she recalled. "When I went out there they were barking, vicously mean."
When she shined her flashlight out the door, Knight said she saw two pit bulls, a mother and her pup, hidden underneath a camper. She called for her husband to get up and called the police.
"That's when he told me they had killed my Samantha," she said, crying.
Knight said "Aunt Samantha," her 14-year old feline, was one of 17 cats she cared for. Some of the cats are feral and stay outdoors, but others roam around the cattery she has and inside the house.
"She had arthritis so she couldn't jump up into high places," Knight told NewsSource 16.
When the police arrived to Knight's house, her husband had collected the dogs and had them contained in the front yard.
"And I said I will be pressing charges," Knight added.
Yet, Knight wasn't able to press charges because at that point there was no known owner. The officer took the dogs to the First Avenue Shelter, formerly known as Lane County Animal Services, and dropped them off. It turned out one of the dogs was licensed and both dogs were returned to their owner that day.
"I asked, you don't euthanize dogs that kill cats? They said no we don't," explained Knight.
Knight and her husband were very upset leaving the shelter. They were appalled that two dogs who not only attacked their cat, but a neighbor's cat and at least two Opossums, would be back on the streets.
Earlier in 2012, Lane County Animal Services merged with Greenhill Humane Society, delegating each city to care for its own animal services programs. The merge was due to budget cuts but has since caused some confusion, according to some residents. Some say there may have been some confusion in this alleged pit bull attack too, due to a lack of organization since the merge.
Officer Berry from Eugene Animal Services told NewsSource 16 he has started the investigation over to further help the Knights. He said the most important thing is that Eugene residents feel satisfied with how they're being served.
"Any dog that kills another domestic animal is subject to potentially dangerous dog level five," Officer Berry explained.
The levels range from one to five, with level five being the most severe. In a level five case, the canine suspect would have to get special registration and wear a "dangerous dog" collar for one year.
In addition, the owner would have to have secure enclosure for the dog - whether that be the house or a kennel outside - and always have the dog on a leash. Any of these violations could put the dog in further trouble, and any violations of a one-year "probation" could also get the canine back in the impound.
Knight told NewsSource 16 she and her friends want stricter laws and more consequences in cases like this one. She said this isn't the first time such an attack has occurred involving her family.
NewsSource 16 received numerous e-mails from Knight's friends, family and neighbors advocating the cause. They have posted a petition on www.change.org to try and get justice for the family. At the time of this article, there were nearly 400 signatures from across the world. Anyone can sign.
"They're from Poland, Australia, New Zealand. I'm just flabbergasted," said Knight.
Officer Berry told NewsSource 16 the new investigation is ongoing. It is possible the case could go to court.
(KMTR - Aug 24, 2012)
