Pit Bulls Kill at Least Two Dogs in Bethlehem
Bethlehem police say pit bulls on the prowl attacked and killed at least two other dogs this morning. It happened outside a home near Itaska and Alaska streets. A man who lives there said three pit bulls were roaming the neighborhood before they entered his yard and attacked his two Chihuahuas. He says by the time police arrived, the pit bulls had already moved into his neighbor's yard and started to attack another dog there. Police removed at three pit bulls from the area after the attacks. They're now at the Northampton County Center for Animal Health and Welfare, where officials say they will have to be euthanized.
This is the first time I've seen something like that happening.
>>REPORTER: Ramon Girona, of bethlehem. says he looked out his window this morning to see his two chihuahua's being attacked by a pack of pit bulls. The three pit bulls got loose from their house on the 500 block of ontario street. They didn't make it more than a block away to Itaska street before killing two dogs and injuring two others.
At the beginning I had no idea what to do. I was going to go in my back yard and get them off my dogs but I went to the phone and called police officers. 911.
>>REPORTER: By the time police got there it was too late. The two chihuahua's were dead.
We did use control poles because we were unsure of their temprament.
>>REPORTER: Police transfered the animals to The Center for Animal Health and Welfare. Executive Director Barbara Loch says the dogs appear to be young...6 to 9 months old.
They were not people aggressive at all. They were incredibly scared.
>>REPORTER: The dog's owner, Sam Lopez Junior relinquished his rights and handed them over. He faces multiple public safety penalties under the Pennsylvania dog law, the worst of which is considered a second degree misdemeanor.
I talked to the dog warden this morning and he didn't know of this person as being one of the common people we have trouble with.
>>REPORTER: As for the three pitbulls, they will be euthanized by the end of the day.
We train out certain types of problems that dogs have but unfortunately once a dog kills another dog that in our criteria is not acceptable for adoption.
Its a very sad experience. It's very traumatic.
>>REPORTER: In Bethlehem Stephanie Esposito 69 news.
>> The owners of those pit bulls called 69 News today. They say they are very sorry for the attack.
Due to the fact that some scripts seen here are finished shortly before airtime, there may be misspellings and grammatical errors. They may also contain phonetic spellings of names and places. Some of the interviews and live segments may not be scripted. COPYRIGHT NOTICE This information is for personal viewing only and may not be retransmitted or used for any other purpose. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP materials nor any portion therof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.
|
|
|
HOME
NEWS
WEATHER
TRAFFIC
SPORTS
DATABANK
SKYCAMS
EMAIL
MAP
|
Hundreds Wait In Line For Free Swine Flu Vaccination