Pack of dogs attack, kill farm animals

LAKEWAY, Texas (KXAN) -  

A pack of six dogs running loose in Lakeway attacked and killed 30 goats, including 12 baby goats, 29 chickens, one peacock and a turkey overnight, costing their owners more than $40,000 in livestock.

Granger Pope, the owner's son, discovered the bloody scene when he arrived on his family's four-acre farm at 8:30 a.m. Thursday. He spotted the dogs trying to make a getaway. Pope shot and killed a tan-colored pit bull that was in the pen with a dozen dead baby goats scattered on the ground. He also killed two more with his shotgun: an Australian shepherd/Border Collie mix and a Lab mix.

Two tan dogs and one black are still on the loose. None of the dogs were wearing collars. Lakeway Police spent the morning gathering evidence from the scene in the 50000 block of Nightingale Lane.

Pope pointed out the spot under the six-foot chainlink fence, with barbed wire at the bottom, where he watched one of the dogs narrowly escape his shotgun blast.

The miniature donkeys were not harmed, but were shaking with fear when the family arrived, Pope said. The Pope family has owned the land for 22 years. About a month ago an animal got in and killed some of their rabbits.

Police said there has only been one other similar case in Lakeway. The city does have an ordinance requiring dogs to be on leashes. If the owners of the dogs that killed the Pope's animals are found, they will face animal-attack charges.

Citizens are urged to keep an eye out for the three medium-sized dogs responsible for the attack. Pope spotted two tan dogs and one black dog escaping. Police said the loose dogs are not considered a threat to humans but could harm other animals.

Donations to help the Pope family can be sent to:
6 Glenway Drive
Austin, TX 78738
Or donate online . All donations are 100 percent tax deductable.