MONROE - Two pit bulls that mauled a smaller dog to death last week will be euthanized by court order.
The decision to euthanize came out of a joint agreement Tuesday in Green County Circuit Court between a city attorney and the dogs' owner, Lance G. Beutel, 26, Monroe.
The agreement allows Beutel, his girlfriend Danielle Dahlman and her daughter a half hour of visitation with the dogs to say goodbye before they're put down at a local vet clinic.
Beutel is also ordered to pay $10 per dog per day for their care at the Green County Humane Society since they were seized from him last week.
"I think it was the best decision that Lance and Danielle could make in light of the situation," said Craig R. Nolan, assistant city attorney.
Last week's mauling is the third time the dogs, identified by Monroe police as 90-pound pit bulls named Kira and Hallie, have attacked other dogs while unleashed and unrestrained.
In October 2012, Kira and Hallie went after a dog but did not injure it. In August 2013, they attacked another dog, causing puncture wounds to its right front leg and left ear. After the second attack, Beutel was fined $175.30 for allowing the dogs to run at large.
Last Monday, Aug. 17, police say Kira and Hallie escaped from their backyard at 2416 7th St. and attacked an 18-pound bichon frise-shih tzu mix named Buddy as he was being walked on a leash by his owners, Donna Buehler and her daughter Abby.
The mauling was violent enough to leave "a pool of blood on the driveway where the small white dog had been," according to a police affidavit in support of the court order to seize the dogs.
Nolan said the dogs escaped due to a "gate-latch malfunction."
Euthanizing is a tragic last resort but necessary, he said: "From what I understand, the dogs are really sweet to people." One of the dogs reportedly went up to and licked one of the police officers investigating the attack.
But given the dogs' aggressive history, Nolan stands by his decision to have the dogs euthanized
"I think this is a situation where there is no feasible alternative," he said.
It's the first such case Nolan has handled in his five years working for the city.
Fatal dog-on-dog attacks are extremely rare, according to Monroe Chief of Police Fred Kelley. He can recall only one other instance in his 35-year career in Monroe.
The decision to euthanize came out of a joint agreement Tuesday in Green County Circuit Court between a city attorney and the dogs' owner, Lance G. Beutel, 26, Monroe.
The agreement allows Beutel, his girlfriend Danielle Dahlman and her daughter a half hour of visitation with the dogs to say goodbye before they're put down at a local vet clinic.
Beutel is also ordered to pay $10 per dog per day for their care at the Green County Humane Society since they were seized from him last week.
"I think it was the best decision that Lance and Danielle could make in light of the situation," said Craig R. Nolan, assistant city attorney.
Last week's mauling is the third time the dogs, identified by Monroe police as 90-pound pit bulls named Kira and Hallie, have attacked other dogs while unleashed and unrestrained.
In October 2012, Kira and Hallie went after a dog but did not injure it. In August 2013, they attacked another dog, causing puncture wounds to its right front leg and left ear. After the second attack, Beutel was fined $175.30 for allowing the dogs to run at large.
Last Monday, Aug. 17, police say Kira and Hallie escaped from their backyard at 2416 7th St. and attacked an 18-pound bichon frise-shih tzu mix named Buddy as he was being walked on a leash by his owners, Donna Buehler and her daughter Abby.
The mauling was violent enough to leave "a pool of blood on the driveway where the small white dog had been," according to a police affidavit in support of the court order to seize the dogs.
Nolan said the dogs escaped due to a "gate-latch malfunction."
Euthanizing is a tragic last resort but necessary, he said: "From what I understand, the dogs are really sweet to people." One of the dogs reportedly went up to and licked one of the police officers investigating the attack.
But given the dogs' aggressive history, Nolan stands by his decision to have the dogs euthanized
"I think this is a situation where there is no feasible alternative," he said.
It's the first such case Nolan has handled in his five years working for the city.
Fatal dog-on-dog attacks are extremely rare, according to Monroe Chief of Police Fred Kelley. He can recall only one other instance in his 35-year career in Monroe.