A pack of unclaimed dogs ran throughout the city on Saturday, July 20, and again Sunday, July 28, leaving carnage in their wake. The pack attacked and killed animals, including as many as 25 cats, most of which were beloved family pets. Authorities say little can be done unless changes are made in city or county regulations.
Kristin Schustereit said she heard a commotion outside her home on Edna Circle on the morning of July 20.
“I ran outside to find seven dogs attacking one of my cats (Mama),” she said. “I hollered and ran at them and they scattered. She was still alive, but not for much longer. She was trying to meow but couldn’t really move.”
Sadly, Mama did not survive. Schustereit’s other cat, Miss Hissy, was already dead before she could chase away the pack.
Schustereit said she and her neighbor, Jamie Rippstein, followed the dogs in their cars.
“They went though yard after yard looking for more prey. I saw another woman, Robyn Zengerle, on the corner of Ladner and Fifth walking around her yard with a garden tool. She had already chased the dogs off from her yard,” Schustereit said. Zengerle’s neighbor had a 16-year-old cat named Rufus attacked and killed.
Schustereit said they followed the dogs to 233 Third St. and her neighbor spoke with the woman who lived there. The woman claimed two of the dogs as hers.
The dogs had scattered and while returning home Schustereit and her neighbor noticed a kitten that had been killed on the corner of Nau and Seventh Street. Schustereit said a previous resident in the area had left behind six cats.
“After making a Facebook post and being contacted by several individuals, I was able to estimate about 25 cats/ kittens that were attacked and killed July 19-20,” Schustereit said. “Their locations stretched from N. Hoppe/W Eighth street, to Edna’s Circle, to Nau Street, to Colonial Drive, to Third Street, to Old Underpass Road.”
This is not the first time Yorktown has experienced this type of incident. Last year, a pack of dogs terrorized and killed show animals belonging to young FFA and 4-H members of De Witt County. The dogs ap-peared to be Labrador retrievers, husky and other large mixed breeds. They were never officially claimed or caught, but their presence in the neighborhoods was soon gone.
The recent vicious pack, as with the pack last year, do not appear to be hungry nor do they devour their prey. They merely seem to find sport in attacking and killing their victim before moving on to their next. Because the dogs do not seem to be malnourished, one can assume they are being fed on a regular basis. However, because the city ordinance on lease laws for dogs is not enforced, it is difficult to determine who owns these animals.
These incidents have been posted on Facebook with many citizens calling for the City of Yorktown to do something to get this situation under control. The City Council, as well as Mayor Baker, have no real options at their disposal. Although there are city ordinances on the books meant to deal with this (and many other items), the City of Yorktown has no immediate law enforcement in place to enforce them.
Council is currently reviewing all city ordinances and working on recommendations for updates.
Besides a lack of law enforcement, the city does not have the tax base or the monies on hand to fund an animal control officer or facility. It would take a large amount of tax dollars to build a facility that meets state codes, own and maintain a vehicle for the transportation of animals and to employ a trained and certified handler.
Mayor Bill Baker states, “The City of Yorktown is happy to consider any solution that benefits the entire community.”
There have been comments posted and remarks made that the citizens of Yorktown should take matters into their own hands in relation to the removal of these dogs. If those matters involve the discharge of firearms within the city limits, another city ordinance would be violated. However, since state laws trump city laws, citizens are within their rights to protect their person and their property.
An incident report from the DeWitt County Sheriff’s Office about the July 20 attack indicates Schustereit “was advised she has the right to protect herself and property and to do so safely and responsibly. She was also advised to make a complaint to City Hall.” According to Sheriff Carl Bowen, “there is little we can do as a county agency unless there is a County Commissioners court order to handle this situation or the city contracts with an outside agency to confiscate these animals, which is very expensive. Since neither of these exists, there is little we can do.”
Clair Sullivan, who is an ardent animal- rescue supporter, urges Yorktown citizens to voice their concerns.
“I understand we do not have an animal control officer or facility,” Sullivan said. “However, this stray dog population has gotten out of hand. I urge anyone that has had a pet killed by this pack of dogs, or any stray dog, to file a report with the city and attend city council meetings to voice their concern. If a report is made with the city, then the city council cannot state they are/ were not aware of the problem.”
