What should have been a quiet Monday walk ended in horror at the Lovett Square Apartments near Alston Avenue in Durham, where a small dog named Baby Boo was killed. Owner Leticia Soto says two larger, pit bull-type dogs suddenly attacked her leashed pet. She was not physically hurt, but neighbors were left stunned and county animal authorities have been notified.
Attack Caught On Camera
Soto's home security system and a neighbor's doorbell camera recorded the attack, according to WRAL. "They immediately swarmed him and yanked him away from me, they snapped the leash, refused to let him go, and I couldn’t do anything," Soto told WRAL. A neighbor rushed out and tried to drive the dogs off with a stick, but Baby Boo suffered severe neck and chest injuries and died at the scene.
What Animal Services Can Do
The Durham County Sheriff's Office Animal Services division is the agency that handles aggressive-animal reports and conducts dangerous-dog investigations, according to the department's online description. Its public materials explain how deputies and animal control officers respond to attacks, impound animals and place bite holds. Those standard procedures are what local officials rely on when they follow up on cases like this.
What The Law Says
A Durham County ordinance allows the sheriff or a designee to impound dogs and impose a $500 civil penalty if a dog that has been deemed dangerous or potentially dangerous is not properly confined, per the Durham County ordinance. At the state level, N.C.G.S. Chapter 67 Article 1A defines "dangerous" and "potentially dangerous" dogs and creates strict civil liability and misdemeanor penalties in some attack situations, according to the North Carolina General Statutes. The state provisions focus mostly on attacks on people, while local rules give counties explicit authority to impound animals and issue civil fines when pets or livestock are badly injured or killed.
Neighbors Want Answers
Soto and neighbors say the two dogs had been seen roaming the complex before and had even approached her daughter, according to WRAL. WRAL also reported that deputies searched the area on Monday afternoon but could not find the animals. Durham officials urge anyone with sightings or tips to call Animal Control at 919-560-0630 during business hours or 911 for emergencies; questions about impounded animals can be directed to 919-560-0640, according to the Durham County FAQ.
