Attacks on Dogs, by Dogs

Update 9/21: the news from Michigan gets stranger and stranger. USAToday reports on a series of murders of dogs.

Earlier:
Of course, sometimes the dogs strike first.


Ten dogs euthanized after fatal attacks
Thursday, September 20, 2007
CHRONICLE NEWS SERVICE

Ten dogs seized last week after some of them allegedly attacked and killed two Livingston County residents have been euthanized.

Anne Burns, director of Livingston County Animal Control, confirmed Wednesday that all 10 of the dogs -- all American bulldogs and bulldog mixes -- were destroyed, even though investigators believe only four of the dogs may have been involved in the attack.

Burns said she decided to destroy all the dogs because they were deemed unadoptable.

State police continue to investigate the vicious attacks that killed Edward Gierlach, 91, and 56-year-old Cheryl Harper. They were neighbors in rural Iosco Township, south of Fowlerville.

Police believe the dogs attacked Gierlach, who was in his yard, and then turned their attention to Harper, who was on her daily walk nearby.

Burns said all 10 dogs, which averaged 75-80 pounds, looked "like a boxer on stilts" and had faces similar to a boxer -- with a strong jaw and muscular body. She said none of the dogs looked like they had been used to fight, and there was no indication that dogs were involved in fights on owner Diane Cockrell's property.

Police have not found any witnesses to the attacks, said Sgt. Therese Fogarty-Cremonte.

Fogarty-Cremonte said autopsies on Gierlach and Harper were being conducted in Ingham County.

Trooper Jeff Frasier, one of three officers investigating the attacks, said Wednesday that neighbors are flooding police with reports that the dogs got out of their kennel a number of times.

Frasier said "there have been times they have gotten out." But, he said, in those cases neighbors said the dogs left the property and returned. But, he said, "if they menaced anyone, no reports were generated."

Frasier also confirmed Wednesday that Cockrell was out of town at the time of the attacks Sept. 13, and that a local teenager was taking care of the dogs. He said both Cockrell and the teen are cooperating with police.

Frasier said the investigation is nearly complete, and will probably be turned over to prosecutors for possible charges in the next day or two.