A quiet stretch of pastureland outside Dade City has turned into a crime scene, according to rancher Kim Kenney, who says a roaming pack of dogs has been terrorizing her herd for months and leaving neighbors on edge.
Kenney says seven of her cattle have died since November, with four killed in a flurry of attacks just over the last week.
Nighttime video shows repeated attacks
Surveillance footage Kenney shared with FOX 13 reportedly shows a group of dogs tearing across her pastures under cover of darkness, closing in on unsuspecting cows.
"They are not eating my animals; they just killing them, ripping their skin and going away," she told the station, describing scenes that sound more like a horror movie than a typical night on the ranch.
Pasco County animal services patrolled the area
Pasco County Animal Services told FOX 13 it responded to the original call involving multiple deceased dogs and found three of six dogs shot and killed after attacking livestock.
The agency said officers patrolled the surrounding area on March 4, 5 and 9. A fourth dead dog was reported on March 8, but it was not collected because officials said there were no known exposures or public health concerns.
Owner and neighbors say they took action
Kenney told reporters her husband and a nearby neighbor shot and killed four of the dogs as the animals were actively attacking livestock, saying they acted to protect both people and animals on the property.
She said she worries about her neighbors’ safety and believes the dogs may have been trained for fighting rather than simply being strays, a suspicion that has only added to local anxiety.
How to report dangerous or roaming animals
Pasco County officials are urging residents to report aggressive or loose animals to Animal Services. The county’s emergency guide lists local Animal Services contacts for Land O' Lakes and Dade City, along with guidance on what to do.
For phone numbers and more details, residents can check the county’s resources through Pasco County.
