Sunday, January 3, 2016

Bull mastiffs attack, kill golden lab in Lynden

WASHINGTON -- Two dogs attacked and killed a golden Labrador retriever near Berthusen Park last week, Dec. 21.

Penny, the golden lab, was walking with owner Carol Drost on Alderwood Drive around 5:30 p.m. when the attack took place, said Lynden Deputy Police Chief John Billester.

A bull mastiff, a cross between a bulldog and mastiff, on the other side of the field ran toward Penny. The second bull mastiff got away and followed. The owner of those dogs, Michael Richards, jumped in his truck and tried to get there before they attacked Penny, Billester said. He was too late.

Once the dogs began fighting, both owners were bitten while trying to separate them. Drost, 58, and Richards, 59, sustained injuries to their hands and sought medical treatment, Billester said.

Penny died later at Kulshan Veterinary Hospital in Lynden.

Lynden Code Enforcement Officer Rick Johal said the two bull mastiffs, named Mr. Momo and Ulena Girl, have been quarantined, per city mandate, and will be until Thursday — 10 days after the attack took place. He said there is a meeting scheduled with Richards at 10 a.m. Thursday to determine what to do with the dogs.

The dogs may be deemed potentially dangerous or dangerous by the city of Lynden. If the city finds the dogs potentially dangerous, the owner must keep the dogs in a kennel and muzzle them when outside the kennel. The dogs typically get microchipped, Johal said, and may need to be spayed or neutered.

If deemed a dangerous dog, those same requirements are imposed with an added minimum $250,000 in liability insurance. Lynden regulations state a dangerous dog also may be subject to confiscation.

(The Bellingham Herald - Dec 30, 2015)

1 comment:

  1. We've gone insane as a society. These two fighting pit bulldog - mastiff mixes, which the AKC has deceptively dubbed 'bullmastiff' to hide the pit part, should immediately be declared DEAD DOGS.

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