Dogs' Fate Lies In Judge's Hands Following Alleged Attack On Pet Goats

NEW YORK -- The owners of two Labrador mixes that attacked and killed a pair of pet goats this week issued a brief statement Thursday expressing their sadness and "sympathy" over the goats' death, but defended the dogs.

In his first public comment since the incident, Jason Feldman said he and his family "are extremely saddened by this whole situation."

 

A wood pole Marie Harrow, 83, from New City
used to fend off the dogs which attacked and
killed her two pet goats. Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014.

 

 

 

"My family and I know what it is to have pets that you love," he said in an email to The Journal News. "We love our pets very much. Our dogs Ty and Pink are truly gentle sweet dogs, anyone who has been in their presence can attest to their sweet temperament."

Ty and Pink were taken to Hi Tor Animal Care Center on Tuesday after they broke out of their home, traveled nearly two miles to Fernwood Drive and mauled the Nigerian dwarf goats, Sonny and Poppy, who belonged to 83-year-old Marie Harrow.

Clarkstown Animal Control Officer Patricia Coleman has secured an order to keep Ty and Pink at Hi Tor until a judge decides the dogs' fate. A hearing has been scheduled for 11 a.m. Oct. 15 at Clarkstown Town Court.

Town of Clarkstown Animal Control Officer Pat Coleman, right,
talks with Marie Harrow, 83, from New City about the two dogs
that killed her pet goats overnight. Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014.

In an emotional interview, Harrow told The Journal News she watched as Sonny and Poppy were killed inside a 20-by-30-foot wire pen in her backyard around 3 a.m. She tried to fend off the dogs with a stick, she said, but had to go inside and call 911 when she couldn't save the goats.

The family and Coleman say that two years ago, on Thanksgiving morning, the same dogs came into Harrow's yard and killed another pair of her goats. Ty and Pink were not found at the scene, but are suspected in the attack, Clarkstown police said.

Jason Feldman and his wife, Lauren, were later taken to Clarkstown Town Court and fined $300 for having the dogs off-leash.

On Thursday, Jason Feldman said it was "unfair" and "untrue" to blame the dogs for the first killing. He declined to elaborate.

(CBS Local - Sep 25, 2014)