Vultures lead neighbor to third N.J. mauled cat; loose dogs captured

NEW JERSEY -- The two loose dogs who mauled cats to death yesterday were captured by their owners today after a police received a call that the dogs had been spotted.

Yesterday, Jan. 30, an elderly woman witnessed the dogs killing one of her cats outside her home, and a second cat was found dead a short time later. Charges against the owners are pending by the township's animal control officer.

Township police reported today that the dogs may have killed a third cat belonging to a neighbor of the first woman. The third cat was found after vultures were seen circling woods behind a home.

Police said the dogs' owners learned yesterday evening, Jan. 30, of the first attack and called to say that their two dogs had escaped their home the evening of Jan 29 and had not returned.

The cats were attacked in the 400 block of Riegelsville Road, about 2 miles from the dogs' home, police said.

Today, a resident of Dogwood Drive, about a half-mile from the cats' home, saw the dogs running loose and called police, who then notified the owners. The dogs weren't wearing collars, but police said they were registered and have current rabies vaccinations.

The dogs are both males, police said, but were neutered. Their owners told police the dogs had escaped from a garage the evening before the cats were killed.

Township animal control officer Nate Barson, called by one of the woman's neighbors, was already looking for the dogs when the attacks occurred.

The attack happened on Jan. 30 at about 11:30 a.m. According to township police, the woman noticed the two dogs on her porch, and snapped a photo of them. She hadn't seen anything amiss at that point, but was apparently uneasy about their proximity.

A short time later, they said she looked outside and saw that one of the dogs had one of her cats by its head, while the second dog had the cat's tail in his mouth.

She called for help and Barson arrived in time to snap a photo of the dogs escaping into a wooded areas behind homes.

Today, police said the third cat was found near the site of the witnessed mauling.

The elderly woman had shared her home with tan-colored "Donavan" and grey-colored "Butch" for 10 years and was deeply upset, officials said. Her home is set back from the road and, as is common in such areas, her cats moved between the outside and indoors. Police said the attack clearly happened on her property.

Barson said the dogs have been secured. He plans on Feb. 2 to file charges against the owners, who could face fines and be required to make restitution.

(NJ.com - Jan 31, 2015)

Earlier:

• Loose dogs maul N.J. cats, elderly owner witnesses attack