The pit bulls' owner is Salinas resident Louie Arrey, who told KSBW that police used "excessive force" in choosing to kill his two pets instead of catching them.
At 9 p.m. Sunday, the three pit bulls were on the loose running down Alisal, Pajaro, Market, Monterey, Gabilan, and Arguello streets after they escaped from their gated backyard.
A man called 911 and told police that his mini-pinscher was attacked by the pack.
"Numerous attempts were made to corral the dogs in an area where they could be contained," officer Miguel Cabrera said. Police ordered residents to stay inside their homes and close their garage doors for safety.
"The dogs were able to flee to Chinatown, where they attacked and killed a Chihuahua," Cabrera said.
"I'm a dog lover, I feel terrible for the Chihuahua and the Chihuahua's owner," Arrey said.
Soon after the Chihuahua met its demise, Cabrera said one of the pit bulls, named Hugs, charged at a police officer and the officer shot the dog to death.
"The officers came around the corner and just started shooting," Arrey said. "My white pit bull Hugs was shot seven times."
A second pit bull, named King, charged at another police officer and was also shot dead by police in Bataan Park, according to Cabrera. The only pit bull that survived Sunday's ordeal is named Lucky.
Arrey said his pooches' aggression was aimed at dogs, not people, and they were acting defensively because they were scared.
Tiny chihuahuas and large pit bulls are both popular dog breeds for pet owners in Salinas.
In March, a group called Save-A-Bull paraded more than 100 well behaved pit bulls through downtown Salinas on Main Street to show that the breed is not dangerous.
The march happened one month after a Salinas police officer killed a pit bull when the dog prevented officers from entering a homicide crime scene at a home on the 300 block of Cross Avenue.
A pit bull-loving group in Monterey, called SociaBull, organizes regular walks and hikes on the Monterey Peninsula in hopes of restoring a positive image for their pets.
(KSBW The Central Coast - August 13, 2012)
