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Letter to the editor

Dogs likely won't be killed

Greyhounds that attacked a Yorkie are in quarantine.

By ANNE LINDBERG, Times Staff Writer
Published December 22, 2007

SEMINOLE - People seemed united in sorrow for an 80-year-old man who lost his Yorkie in an attack by a pack of greyhounds.

Among the comments sent to the St. Petersburg Times were both understanding of the actions of greyhounds bred and trained to chase small animals and calls for the animals to be destroyed.

But those who want the greyhounds put down are likely to be disappointed. Under Florida law, a dog is not considered dangerous until it has either severely bitten a human or attacked another animal more than once, said Dr. Welch Agnew, the assistant director of veterinary services for Pinellas Animal Services.

Richard Graeber was bitten trying to save his Yorkie, not because the greyhounds attacked him. And, Agnew said, the greyhounds have never been reported to Animal Control for other attacks on animals.

"At this point, it does not appear these dogs will be declared dangerous," Agnew said. "It's a sad situation. I can understand the frustration. ... It was just an unfortunate situation. We don't know what happened or how it happened."

The attack came about 11:30 a.m. Thursday on Huston Lane in unincorporated Seminole. Graeber was walking his two Yorkies and miniature collie when the greyhounds targeted the smaller dogs.

One Yorkie and the collie ran off, but the greyhounds got hold of the other Yorkie. Graeber was bitten and knocked down when he tried to save his dog.

A college student from a nearby house came to help. They dislodged one of the dogs. Another dropped the Yorkie when Graeber stabbed it in the neck with a pocket knife. The four or five dogs then ran home.

The greyhounds belong to Katherine Koufas-Eisbacher and her husband, Mike Eisbacher, who have worked with greyhound rescue for 15 years. Eisbacher said Thursday he is not sure how his dogs got out. The five greyhounds were rescued from the racetrack.

All five are in quarantine for 10 days - three at the Eisbachers and two at a local vet. Graeber's surviving two dogs have also been quarantined for 10 days. Agnew said that's because it is uncertain which dog bit Graeber and officials want to make sure none is infected with rabies.

Greyhounds do not have a reputation of being aggressive, but they were originally bred to hunt. And dogs that are trained to run on a track are taught to pursue a fleeing "bunny." The dogs do not distinguish between the "bunny" and a small live animal like a cat or Yorkshire terrier.

When they see a small animal running, said Kelly Faircloth, president of Greyhound Rescue & Adoptions of Tampa Bay, their prey instinct takes over. If the dogs are in a pack, the instinct becomes that much greater.

"Any breed of dog is capable of doing what has happened," Faircloth said. "We're talking about a breed that is usually extremely easy to live with. ... I am so sorry to hear this."

[Last modified December 21, 2007, 23:25:55]