CARLSBORG — At least one of the two dogs which are suspected of killing a llama and two sheep Sunday will be euthanized, Animal Control Deputy Tracey Kellas said Monday.
The decision whether the other animal is euthanized is the owner’s to make within the next 20 days, Kellas said.
“He has decided to put the great Dane down,” she said. “The other one he is still deciding.”
The two dogs were captured following the killings of two sheep and a llama in the Joslin Road area of Carlsborg early Sunday.
A third sheep was left near death after the attack and was shot to death by a sheriff’s deputy at the request of the unidentified owner.
Attributed to dogs
All the deaths were attributed to dogs because of the nature of the wounds, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Department said Sunday.
Neighbors and others originally thought a cougar might have been to blame.
A white pit bull and a black great Dane were captured later Sunday near where the attacks happened.
Pat Williams, a resident in the area, called 9-1-1 to say she couldn’t get the canines to leave her property.
Animal blood was found on both of the dogs — both of whom were taken by an Animal Control agent to the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society.
If the owner were to decide to take the pit bull home, there will be hefty requirements, Kellas said.
“If he should decide not to put the pit bull down, it would be declared a dangerous animal,” she said.
“What that means is they have to have a special animal license.
“The dog must also be kept in a six-sided container — that means it must have four walls and a top and bottom and closed with a lock.
“Anytime it is outside that container it would have to be on a muzzle.”
On top of the requirements, the owner would have to take out a $250,000 insurance bond, Kellas said.
“He would also have to put up signs that could be understood by a child that a bad dog lives there — that is even though the dogs did not bite any person in any way,” Kellas said.
Not identified
The owner, who Kellas declined to identify citing an “ongoing investigation,” will have about 20 days to decide what to do about the pit bull.
“If he chooses to take the one home, I would also have to go and inspect the kennel he proposes using,” Kellas said.
Kellas said the great Dane had killed another llama previously in Port Angeles when it lived in the city.
The dogs’ owner now lives within a half-mile of where the attacks occurred, she said.
Whatever attacked the animals, they started with the sheep on Burt Rickard’s property across the road from Williams’ residence.
Two sheep were killed on his property; one was partially eaten.
A third was chased to a small pen on his neighbor’s property, which is where the llama was attacked.
Kathy Yada, who owned the llama, said she was awaken about 3:30 a.m. Sunday to the sound of her dalmatian, Champ, rustling with the other dogs.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
