Posted 3:19 pm Monday, November 15, 2010
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Officials: Most Of Dogs Taken From Scene Of Fatal Pit Bull Attack Euthanized
By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer
HENDERSON — Most of the 35 to 40 dogs seized by Rusk County Sheriff’s officials last week following the mauling death of 2-year-old Kaden Muckelroy have been euthanized, according to officials.
Staff Writer
HENDERSON — Most of the 35 to 40 dogs seized by Rusk County Sheriff’s officials last week following the mauling death of 2-year-old Kaden Muckelroy have been euthanized, according to officials.
Ronnie Whittington, Henderson Animal Shelter supervisor, would not give a specific number of the dogs that were put to sleep, but she said the majority was euthanized.
“Most of the dogs were mangy and they each had plenty of medical issues. Yes they were fed, but that is all the attention they were getting,” she said.
She added, “Two of the dogs that were OK medically were just too aggressive.”
Kaden was mauled last week at his grandfather’s home on County Road 421 just south of Henderson as he played on a swing set.
Sheriff’s officials said the pit bull that killed the child was on a chain near the swing set. When the child’s mother stepped inside for a moment, the dog broke the chain and attacked the child.
Kaden died of injuries he received in the attack at East Texas Medical Center in Henderson.
Mrs. Whittington defended the euthanizations, saying the dogs were “too far gone medically.”
“There were some puppies that we were able to save,” she said. “The dogs we could we save we saved. There were two dogs that were so bad their mouths drooped down so far they couldn’t eat. We didn’t just put these dogs to sleep.”
Ms. Whittington said one-third to half of the dogs were pit bulls or pit bull mixes.
She said the boy’s grandfather was what she would describe as an animal hoarder and not someone breeding dogs to fight.
“He did feed them and he did love them, but he just didn’t take care of their medical needs,” she said.
The Tyler Paper is still awaiting confirmation on whether the dog actually involved in the attack is alive or dead.
See Tuesday’s Tyler Morning Telegraph for more details.
She added, “Two of the dogs that were OK medically were just too aggressive.”
Kaden was mauled last week at his grandfather’s home on County Road 421 just south of Henderson as he played on a swing set.
Sheriff’s officials said the pit bull that killed the child was on a chain near the swing set. When the child’s mother stepped inside for a moment, the dog broke the chain and attacked the child.
Kaden died of injuries he received in the attack at East Texas Medical Center in Henderson.
Mrs. Whittington defended the euthanizations, saying the dogs were “too far gone medically.”
“There were some puppies that we were able to save,” she said. “The dogs we could we save we saved. There were two dogs that were so bad their mouths drooped down so far they couldn’t eat. We didn’t just put these dogs to sleep.”
Ms. Whittington said one-third to half of the dogs were pit bulls or pit bull mixes.
She said the boy’s grandfather was what she would describe as an animal hoarder and not someone breeding dogs to fight.
“He did feed them and he did love them, but he just didn’t take care of their medical needs,” she said.
The Tyler Paper is still awaiting confirmation on whether the dog actually involved in the attack is alive or dead.
See Tuesday’s Tyler Morning Telegraph for more details.
