Animal Services decides to kill four pit bulls that attacked jogger

TEXAS -- On Thursday, the Director of Animal Services, Nina Cloud, told KFOX14 News that the department will kill four pit bulls that attacked a jogger in a Lower Valley neighborhood.

On Wednesday, Animal Services said it would conduct a Dangerous Dog investigation on the dogs and then decide their fate. The attack was on Wednesday, and the city originally said the investigation would span several days.

Juan Trivizo

Juan Trivizo gave an emotional interview Wednesday, claiming that a unique circumstance caused the attack, not his dogs' aggressive natures. During that interview, Trivizo told KFOX that he had already been informed that the dogs would be put down.

Thursday morning, KFOX sent a request to the City of El Paso, through the Freedom of Information Act, asking for details of the Dangerous Dog investigation and proof that an investigation was in fact taking place. The request was sent about one hour before Animal Services revealed that, regardless of the investigation, the dogs would be put down.

"Right now, they're not adoptable since they have been involved in an unprovoked attack," Cloud said.

Cloud would not discuss how it was determined that the attack was unprovoked.

"Each case is a unique case but right now, as we know, the dogs were not contained the way that the state says they're supposed to be contained," Cloud said.

The 46-year-old jogger was taken to Del Sol Medical Center and he's expected to recover.

Animal Services said the dogs will be held for 10 days to determine if they have rabies before they are put down. If they do have rabies, officials will let the victim know.

The dogs' owner received 13 citations for violations related to animal vaccinations, registration, microchips and not having the dogs confined to the property.

Julie Rutledge is a professional dog trainer who has worked with aggressive dogs for about nine years. She spoke with KFOX about possible reasons for the attack. She said one of those reasons is that there were four dogs together.

"It's the pack mentality," Rutledge said. "You had four dogs together. They're going to behave significantly differently than each individual dog would."

Rutledge also said the jogger's quick movements could have set them off.

"The person's moving at a faster pace, not walking, so you're going to have more prey drive kick in," Rutledge said.

Rutledge said the chain-link fence on the dog owner's property could have also caused barrier aggression because the dogs are able to see what's happening off of the property.

Rutledge agrees with the city that much of the responsibility falls on the dogs' owner.

(KFOX - Oct 19, 2012)

Earlier:

• Jogger attacked by 4 pit bulls in El Paso's Lower Valley