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A pack of dogs is suspected of recently killing three cats. A pet watch group worries that a child could be next.
By SUSAN THURSTON
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 22, 2001
LAKE FOREST -- As Debbie Morgan dozed on her couch, she heard a cat wail outside. She looked out to see three large dogs around her neighbor's cat.
One had the cat in its teeth.
Morgan scared off the dogs but, by then, it was too late. Roxie Blue died in her arms.
"I knew she was hurt real bad," said Morgan, who has three cats of her own. "She probably had massive internal injuries."
Roxie Blue was one of three cats killed in Lake Forest early on Aug. 15. Neighbors suspect the dogs attacked Roxie on Pine Glen Circle, then mauled a cat named Casey on nearby Morning Drive. A third cat was found dead on the other side of the community.
The deaths came as a shock to people in this older, residential neighborhood off Bearss Avenue near New Tampa. The area is home to many dogs and cats, but rarely has had problems with vicious animals.
A few days after the attack, members of the Lake Forest Pet Watch distributed fliers to the 495 homes and townhouses alerting people about the danger. It also asked for their help in finding the dogs.
"Please report all dogs running at large to the clubhouse," the letter said. "This time it was Roxie Blue and Casey. Next time it might be a child."
"It was a horrible thing," said Dee Clark, a member of the pet watch group. "We need to identify those dogs."
Witnesses say one of the dogs was black with a curly coat. Another had long, yellow fur and the other looked like a greyhound.
Morgan said it appeared none of the dogs was wearing a collar. It's unknown whether the dogs live in Lake Forest or entered through the woods behind the community.
Animal control officials suspect the dogs are pets.
"As active as that community is, we would have had some complaints," said Dennis McCullough, a supervisor for Hillsborough County Animal Services. "I think it could be (someone's) animals that got out. When animals get out, they pack up."
Not everyone agrees. A few days after the letter went out an anonymous resident put a flier in people's mailboxes saying wild dogs are to blame. It accuses the pet watch group of inciting needless panic.
McCullough had not heard of the situation until Tuesday, but said he planned to assign officers to patrol the area at night. If the dogs are caught, their owners can be fined up to $300 per dog. The cost goes up another $150 if the animal hasn't been registered or vaccinated.
Some residents said the killings have them frightened. Lynn Lavely bought some pepper spray to defend her miniature poodle, Rusty, from a possible attack.
"It scared me to death," she said. "He's so little . . . he wouldn't have a chance."
- Susan Thurston can be reached at (813) 226-3463.