Note to self: "Don't leave dog outside. That neighbor's dog keeps trying to kill her."

PENNSYLVANIA -- A Westmoreland County woman who works as a clown and uses her dog in her performances says the 15-year-old dog was mauled by a neighbor's dog Sunday.

Elaine Scalf, also known as Glitter Dot the Clown, said her 4-pound miniature Dachshund, Teeny, was killed while on her leash on her property.

 

Scalf said she and her husband, Dan, also known as Dapper the Clown, were face painting at Twin Lakes Park when her son called to tell them Teeny had been attacked.

Scalf claimed the neighbor's larger dog ran into Scalf's yard and attacked Teeny, eviscerating her, while Teeny was chained to a tree.

"She was disemboweled and too badly damaged to try and operate on her," Scalf said.

Scalf said this same dog had attacked Teeny twice in the past. Delmont police confirm the previous attacks.

"She lost skin, had puncture wounds, had to have stitches, be on antibiotics. We did press charges and she paid the fine," Scalf said.

Delmont police said they can't file any citations against the other dog's owner since it was a dog-on-dog attack and dogs are considered property.

[This is untrue. It is either ignorance or laziness on the part of the police or animal control. Read this about PA's dangerous dog law:]

Dangerous Dogs: 'A dangerous dog is one that has attacked, inflicted severe injury to, or killed a human being or a domestic animal without provocation while off an owner's property."
 
Responsibilities of Dog Owner:
If the dog is deemed dangerous by the magisterial district justice, the owner must:

• Register the animal with the Dog Law Enforcement Office and re-register on an annual basis
• Registration fee is $500 per calendar year for the life of the dog plus an additional amount as set by the Department to cover administrative cost
• Confine the dog in a proper enclosure
• Post a warning sign with a symbol that warns children of the presence of a dangerous dog
• Keep the dog muzzled and leashed when outside the proper enclosure
• Spay or Neuter the dog
• Microchip the dog
• Be compliant with court ordered restitution
• Post a bond or purchase and maintain liability insurance in the amount of $50,000 to pay for injuries inflicted by the dog
• Agree not to cancel the liability insurance during the license period unless he/she disposes of the dog
• Sign a statement providing that he/she will notify the Dog Law Enforcement Office, state dog warden and local police if the dog is loose, attacks a human or an animal, dies or is sold/donated - Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's website

Delmont contracts animal control cases to Hoffman Kennels. Officers said employees at Hoffman Kennels are licensed to file citations if their investigations deem necessary.

Police said they can only get involved and quarantine an animal if it bit a human, has rabies or if they cannot make contact with the dog's owner.

Scalf said her veterinarian lives up the street and ran down to try to help Teeny, but had to ultimately euthanize the dog at her office because the injuries were too great. Scalf said she just wants an apology from the dog's owner.

"She's been in hundreds of shows over the years. Many, many kids in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties are aware of who she is," Scalf said. "I had her booked in some birthday parties this weekend. What am I supposed to tell people?"

No one answered a knock at the dog owner's door Monday afternoon.

(WTAE - Jul 7, 2014)