One lamb dies after pit bulls attack pair of lawn-mowing sheep

INDIANA -- One of two Jacob sheep — used in Willard Park on the Near Eastside neighborhood to keep grass low on vacant lots — has died after being attacked by stray dogs Saturday.

Sue Spicer and her partner Kay Grimm co-own Lily and Twisty and operate Green Shepherd Project, a nonprofit that used the two sheep to maintain neglected lawns at Indianapolis’ many vacant houses.

 

“Lily is gone. Injuries too severe. Twisty, stable but has holes from snout to tail. His challenge now infection and loneliness,” Green Shepherd Project posted on Facebook Saturday night.

“A neighbor saw it happen and called the police,” Grimm said.

Two “very hungry,” thin and undernourished, dogs pushed their way under the fence on Spicer and Grimm’s property. The women were down the alley, just a few yards away, hosting visitors to their urban fruit farm. They quickly returned to find Lily with “multiple puncture wounds, from nose to tail. She was bit pretty bad,” Grimm said.

[Although not described as pit bulls in the article, on their Facebook page someone described them as "starving pitties"]

They took both sheep to Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine, where 1 1/2-year-old Lily died, and where 4-year-old Twisty will remain for two weeks.

“Our greatest fear is he might get an infection,” Grimm said.

Inquiries already have begun about how to donate funds for Twisty’s veterinary care. Grimm said donors may make checks payable to Willard Park, with “sheep” in the memo line, and mail c/o Kay Grimm, 341 N. Hamilton Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46201.

The dogs are being held at Animal Care and Control.

(IndyStar - Oct 19, 2013)