A pit bull that fatally mauled a Chihuahua named Cricket during a June 13 morning walk in Northeast Portland has now been officially labeled a danger to the public by Multnomah County Animal Services. The 6-pound Chihuahua died from its injuries, according to residents and county records, and witnesses trailed the dog handler back to a nearby apartment complex after the attack. Animal Services says it is moving to suspend the pit bull owner's rights to keep the dog and may use legal enforcement to seize the animal if the owner does not comply.
As reported by KOIN, the attack happened near Northeast 148th Avenue and Glisan Street, where neighbors followed the person walking the pit bull back to the Lawrence Apartments. County investigators told the outlet they believe the dog was out in public without a muzzle and that it was being handled by someone other than its owner. According to KOIN, reporters went to the unit tied to the dog walker at the complex but got no response at the door.
Neighbors say the scene was nothing short of horrific. "The pit bull was eating her insides out from below my arms," Larry Schubert told KOIN. Another neighbor, Les Jackson, held up a bloodstained sweater and said, "This is what we have of Cricket left, and she’s loved," the outlet reported.
County Records And The Level 4 Designation
Multnomah County Animal Services records show the pit bull had already been classified as Level 4, the county's potentially dangerous designation, after the dog bit a person in April and again in May. Under county rules, Level 4 dogs face tight safety restrictions, including a requirement to be muzzled while in public, according to the agency. Officials noted that no human bites were reported in the June 13 incident, but the fatal attack on Cricket still met the standard for the Level 4 label.
Legal Options And Next Steps
In a civil notice of infraction, the county is seeking to suspend the owner's right to keep the pit bull and has given the owner a chance to appeal the decision. "We will pursue all legal options to remove possession of the attacking dog from its current owner," Multnomah County Animal Services said. If no appeal is filed, county records state that officials will seek a default judgment, then move to retrieve the dog using legal enforcement.
For neighbors mourning Cricket, the county's action offers some relief but also fuels frustration about how closely owners and handlers are monitored after prior dangerousness findings. The case highlights how difficult it can be for local authorities to balance an owner's property rights with the broader community's safety when a dog that has previously bitten is later out in public without a muzzle.
