County: Pit bull that mauled horses should be euthanized

By Ashley Livingston

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008 | 4:28 p.m.

A county board Tuesday upheld an order that a pit bull be euthanized for its role in the mauling of two horses in Silverado, an attack that killed one of the horses.

The dog owner didn't immediately indicate if he would appeal in court.

The attack occurred the morning of Thanksgiving on the 8000 block of Ranch Destino Road, near Windmill Lane and Gilespie Street.

Clark County Animal Control Sgt. David March said the owner of the horses found them being attacked by two dogs in his backyard.

Both dogs were consequently declared vicious by animal control, a declaration given to animals that constitute a threat to human beings or other animals that have killed or inflicted substantial harm upon a human being or other animal.

March said it is illegal to own a vicious animal in Clark County, so unless an appeal is made of that declaration, an animal deemed as such will be put down.

An appeal of that decision for only one of the dogs was brought before the Clark County Animal Advisory Committee Tuesday.

The other dog is slated to be euthanized, March said. Robert Adams, who identified himself as the neighbor of the horse owner and as the owner of the dog for which the decision to euthanize was being appealed, said the other pit bull involved in the attack was a stray that had been coming onto his property.

March said while Adams' dog remains in a shelter, Adams will now be given about 10 working days to appeal in court.

Adams said his dog is a sweet dog and well-trained. While he said he wasn't home during the attack, he said the dog is usually kept indoors and when let outside, it didn't leave the yard.

The owner of the horses did not attend the hearing.

Committee member Clarissa Nelson marveled at the amount of damage inflicted by the dogs on animals so much larger than the canines.

"I have to vote vicious," she said. The five-member committee voted 4-1 to uphold the decision that the dog be euthanized.

Ashley Livingston can be reached at 990-8925 or [email protected]