CALIFORNIA -- Two pit bulls that authorities said killed a cow, six chickens, two pigs and severely mauled a steer early Christmas Day have been euthanized.
The dogs' owners relinquished ownership to Tulare Code Enforcement, Officer Frank Furtaw said.
The dogs were initially shot with tranquilizer darts so that they could be removed from the East Paige Avenue location where the attack occurred. The dogs' owners didn't want to pay $600 in fines and fees when the dogs were claimed.
"It's sad for the animals," said Gina Deniz, who owns the livestock along with her husband, Frank. "They suffered because of negligence."
Furtaw, Tulare's lead code enforcement officer, said the dogs' aggressive behavior might have come from neglect; the dogs had been allowed to roam their neighborhood. The dogs, which were not licensed, had been caught before by code enforcement and the owners had been cited.
The dogs became territorial and instinctive, authorities said.
Deniz, whose livestock was boarded at the rear of a home in the 800 block of East Paige Avenue, said there had been no previous problems with the dogs.
Furtaw said police and code enforcement officers were called to the site after receiving reports of the attack. Initially, authorities believed that only the cow had been attacked.
Tara Scott, who lives at the home where the animals' pens are located, said the chickens and pigs were discovered later. Scott said her dog, which stays inside the house, became agitated at about 4:30 a.m. Sunday, when loud noises came from the pens. A large, empty field surrounds the home, which faces Paige.
When the pens were checked, Scott said the dogs were spotted and so was the injured livestock.
"It looked like the pit bulls had settled down," she said.
Furtaw said the dogs were huddled close to each other, about 5 feet from the downed cow. When officers approached them, the dogs, particularly the female, became aggressive and charged, Furtaw said.
Additional officers were called and the dogs were tranquilized.
After the dogs were removed, officers noted that the dead cow had injuries to its neck and head, Furtaw said. Because penned animals are passive, the cow did not defend herself.
"That cow died a horrible death," he said.
The wounded steer had severe injuries on the mouth and face, Deniz said. "The poor thing has a horrible time eating," she said.
Deniz said she has already spent $1,000 in animal removal fees and veterinary treatment for the injured steer. "The vet says he will be fine," she said. "It'll have scars. It won't be like it wasn't attacked."
Furtaw said the dog owners live in the 300 block of North G Street, about 3 miles north of where the attack occurred. The pit bulls were described as normal size; the male was 60 to 80 pounds, the female 40 to 50 pounds. They were about 5 years old.
Furtaw said the dogs' breed was not much of a factor in the attack. Scott said her pit bull is a great pet, not aggressive.
"There's no particular breed that's negative," Furtaw said. "It's all owner control. We have had the nicest pit bulls. It's owner-determined."
Deniz said she doesn't know if she'll seek civil damages.
"I wish people would take care of their animals, license and tag them," she said.
Furtaw said legal action could be the likely next step. "The cow's owner can seek civil action on the loss of property," he said.
That's what Deniz should do, Scott said.
"She's out about $1,000," Scott said of Deniz. "She has lost out on that money."
[I don't particularly care if the cow was worth $1,000 or 1-cent. This animal suffered horribly. Was attacked, terrorized and torn to pieces by these two pit bulls. What does it take for a 400+ pound animal to be mauled so severely it DIED?! Four hundred pound animals do not die easily by something biting it. This probably went on for HOURS and each time the cow moved, it would trigger yet another mauling by these dogs. Absolutely disgusting.]
(Visalia Times-Delta - Dec. 29, 2011)
