TEXAS -- A pit bull owner was charged with animal cruelty after his dogs attacked a defenseless pony. He stood by and watched the attack from his porch as his dogs savagely ripped the pony to pieces, according to the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said the dogs attacked the Shetland pony while it was tied up in a yard. The pony had absolutely no way of getting away, and the dogs’ owner did nothing to stop them, according to witnesses.
“I saw the dogs. Two of them were hanging on his back, another on his neck. They pulled him down, he got back up. He was all ripped to shreds,” described Cathy Pierce.
Deputies said the dogs attacked the Shetland pony while it was tied up in a yard. The pony had absolutely no way of getting away, and the dogs’ owner did nothing to stop them, according to witnesses.
“I saw the dogs. Two of them were hanging on his back, another on his neck. They pulled him down, he got back up. He was all ripped to shreds,” described Cathy Pierce.
Pierce said the owner of the pit bulls-- Lachain Dever -- only slapped the side of his mobile home wall to try and get their attention, but the dogs ignored him. It wasn’t the first time neighbors saw the dogs get aggressive.
“We’ve called before on them being loose. They came over here to the house, my husband came out and he (the dog) lunged at my husband and we came back in,” Pierce said. “I did call the neighbor, he did come and get the dog.”
Deputies said even after they arrived, the owner did not attempt to get his dogs under control. It was not until deputies decided to deploy deadly force, that Dever called off his dogs and chained them back up.
“We’ve called before on them being loose. They came over here to the house, my husband came out and he (the dog) lunged at my husband and we came back in,” Pierce said. “I did call the neighbor, he did come and get the dog.”
Deputies said even after they arrived, the owner did not attempt to get his dogs under control. It was not until deputies decided to deploy deadly force, that Dever called off his dogs and chained them back up.
The pony sustained extensive damage to the body, legs and throat. The animal's injuries were so severe it had to be put down.
The pit bulls were placed under quarantine and the Dever was arrested at the scene. He was then booked into the Liberty County Jail.
(KHOU - July 10, 2012)
