Dog to be put down after killing 7 goats at 4-H camp

NORTH CAROLINA -- A dog that witnesses say attacked and killed multiple goats at a Pitt County 4-H camp will soon be put down.

“The wounds, the pain on the animal’s faces, lives with you it’s something you carry,” said Andy Burlingham.

Andy Burlingham, the owner of the goats killed, believes the large chow mix dog dug under or jumped over the chain link fencing to get to the goats. He says it’s not the dogs fault; it’s the owners for not keeping it leashed.

“The traits remain in the dogs even though we have made them pets those instincts and traits remain in those dogs and given the opportunity by either not getting disciplined when they do act bad or not being able or confined under maintaining in a proper way.”

61 children were enrolled in the camp but after yesterday’s attacks, parents can now either get a refund or send their children to a different camp next month.

Michelle Whaley with Pitt County Animal Services says the dog and her five puppies is now in the county’s custody.

“We would quarantine the dog for ten days and observe its health, due to the dogs history and what he readily admitted to us, this dog would not be a candidate for adoption and after the ten days and we verify that there were no health issues observed, the dog will be humanely euthanized.”

Whaley says this wouldn’t have happened if the owner was watching the dog or following the new K-9 ordinance requiring people in the county to keep their animals on a leash.

“People need to be responsible for their animals so they don’t cause damage or property damage to other people property such as livestock or other animals and even humans, so I think it’s very important that owners are responsible for the actions of their pets so they do keep them pain to not bother anyone.”

The puppies will be ready for adoption in the upcoming weeks at the Pitt county animal shelter. The owner of the goats says he doesn’t plan to press charges against the dog’s owner.

(WNCT - June 24, 2015)