Pit-bull stolen from shelter
Arlington, TX (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Apr 20, 2005
County: Tarrant
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
Arlington animal shelter officials believe that thieves scaled a 6-foot chain-link fence late Thursday night and stole a pit bull that was being held for mauling a man.
Officers had seized the dog April 20 from an east Arlington apartment in an aggravated kidnapping case in which the suspects are accused of using the dog to keep a 21-year-old man captive in a bathroom.
Walter Hall, whose son Shawn Hall was bitten and mauled by the pit bull, said he was surprised when shelter employees told him Friday that the dog was gone.
According to police reports, nine dogs have been stolen from the city's animal shelter in 16 months.
City officials said that despite security measures, including surveillance cameras and police patrols, it is not difficult for thieves to break into the outdoor, chain-link kennels in the shelter on 5920 W. Pioneer Parkway. Last year, the city authorized construction of a $340,000 enclosed animal shelter, which officials have said should be ready by January 2007.
"It's not uncommon for shelters built like ours to be broken into," said Animal Services Director Mike Bass. "After we close ... they cut the fence where the dog is or cut the lock."
Bass said that the shelter did not know that the pit bull had bitten someone, and it was not quarantined.
Arlington police were investigating a burglary when they stumbled across someone, who had stated had been beaten, burned with cigarettes and held hostage at gunpoint for three days over an alleged drug debt. Police have arrested three men in connection with the kidnapping.
This man was very afraid because they left the dog in the bathroom with him, and every time he moved the dog went with him.
If an animal bites a person, the state requires the city to quarantine and observe it for 10 days to watch for signs of rabies, said Lee Hitchcock, Neighborhood Services acting director.
"When it is stolen ... that puts the burden on the bite victim to go through the expensive, time-consuming and painful process of getting rabies shots," Hitchcock said.
The man's father stated he is not sure whether his son, who was treated at an Arlington hospital for bite and scratch wounds to his legs and abdomen, will require shots.
Any information regarding this case can be directed to:
City of Arlington Animal Services Division
5920 W. Pioneer Parkway
Arlington, TX 76013
Phone: 817-451-3436
Fax: 817-451-9573
Email: bassm@ci.arlington.tx.us
Website: www.ci.arlington.tx.us/animals If you have information on this case, please contact:
City of Arlington Animal Services Division
bassm@ci.arlington.tx.us
817-451-3436
References« TX State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Tarrant County, TX
|
