SPOKANE, Wash. — Neighbors near Comstock Park are warning other pet owners about two dangerous dogs responsible for killing and seriously injuring other dogs in the park.
The Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS) is now investigating.
"Most every day, I just begin my day walking my dog like so many other neighbors do," Comstock resident Staci Clary said. "We have a great community of neighbors who walk their dog in the park."
February 2 was no different for Clary and her dog, Sam.
"He's a large yellow lab," Clary said. "He's 107 pounds, probably more now because of the treats he's getting."
A walk in Comstock nearly cost Sam his life.
"He's probably got 20 puncture wounds," Clary said.
Clary said the attack was unprovoked. Sam was off a leash, which is against city park rules. So was another dog.
"One of them I believe is a Pitbull mix," Clary said. "I believe it's a Mastiff. The other is also a Pitbull."
"One of the two dogs came out and attacked my dog in the neck and then the other attacked him in the inner loin," Clary continued.
Clary said the attack finally stopped when the other dog's owner bit its tail.
"We both didn't know what to do," Clary said. "It was a terrible moment in time."
But Clary said she did know the dogs and their owner. That's because they killed her neighbors dog the day before.
"Very traumatic for my daughter, very traumatic for my wife, and then for me," Resident Trent Anderson said. "The dog had really become part of the family."
Anderson's wife took their daughter's rat terrier Gertie to the park.
"It was our fur grandbaby," Anderson said.
Gertie was also off leash.
"We rushed her into the veterinarian and, unfortunately, the dog passed away within about 15 minutes after being at the vet," Anderson said. "Too much, massive loss of blood."
SCRAPS said the two dogs involved the Comstock attacks have been deemed dangerous. That means their owner has to register them as dangerous, pay annual fees and show SCRAPS they are being kept in an approved enclosure every 12 months.
The owner also required to post a sign indicating a dangerous dog lives on the property. SCRAPS said the dogs' owner plans to appeal the designation.
Dangerous dogs are allowed to be walked on leash in public while wearing a muzzle. SCRAPS said officers issued violations to all parties for having dogs off leash during the attacks. Animal control officers are conducting emphasis patrols in Comstock Park and have already written more tickets for leash violations.
"These kinds of tragic events can happen, so I would encourage anyone who walks their dog in a public park to maintain control of their individual dog so this sort of thing doesn't happen," Anderson said.
Clary wants the county to create a site showing where dangerous dogs live, similar to a sex offender registry.
"Say there's a dangerous dog on this street," Clary said. "I'm just going to skip that house when I trick-or-treat."
She and Trent are sharing their stories in hopes of raising awareness, to leash up so that everyone can enjoy the park safely.
"I think that pets give us a form of love that we really don't get anywhere else," Clary said. "So, it becomes a very tragic event when this sort of thing happens."
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