Editor's note: The following are two news releases. The first was sent from the El Paso Zoo on Thursday. Liz Kern, who wrote it, is the zoo spokeswoman, and a former journalist. The second was sent from Animal Control on Friday.
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Aug. 21, 2008 – A pronghorn antelope and a sandhill crane were mauled and killed by three dogs that made their way into the El Paso Zoo late Wednesday.
At about 11:45 p.m. last night, Zoo security heard barking and animal distress noises in the American Grasslands exhibit. When the guards ran over to investigate, they found two Pit Bulls and a German Shepherd inside the exhibit near two zoo animals that were lying on the ground.
Security immediately called the city’s Animal Services Division and El Paso Zoo Safety and Security Coordinator Nancy Juvrud, who requested assistance from the El Paso Police Department.
The police and animal control acted in a timely manner, but to no avail as the dogs made their way out of the zoo into the canal area by the Boone Street gate.
The search for the feral dogs is continuing.
“Although we were unable to capture the dogs, Animal Services will be working with Zoo officials to place traps in the area to capture the dogs. Additionally, we are actively patrolling the area,” said Ray Sim, the city’s Health Department deputy director.
El Paso Zoo Director Steve Marshall, said “because of the quick response of our security, animal control and EPPD, no other animals were harmed.”
Zoo officials are working on determining how the dogs entered the zoo. Eight foot tall, chain link fencing, topped by barbed wire runs the perimeter of the zoo. Marshall suspects the dogs got into the park by digging under the chain-link fence and then into the exhibit by jumping over a rock wall planter.
“These dogs were determined, they were motivated,” Marshall said.
Dr. Victoria Milne, Zoo Veterinarian, examined the mauled animals. She found each had fatal bite marks.
Animal Curator John Kiseda said feral dogs pose a threat to the zoo animals and the community.
“Our zoo keepers are crushed at the loss of these two longstanding animals at the zoo,” Kiseda said. “Hope was a female pronghorn antelope, who arrived here in 1990, and Dakota, a sandhill crane known for following keepers around when they were feeding him or cleaning the exhibit. He had been here since 1994.”
“There are a lot of dogs that run lose throughout neighborhoods and it’s a problem at many zoos.” “Once they decide to get in, they are very effective and lethal and are good diggers.” “And as we see today, the results are devastating,” said Nancy Juvrud, who is a former police sergeant and has seen this situation before. “Law enforcement officers deal with feral dogs way too often, and dogs usually strike at night, when there are few people around.”
The Zoo, which has bi-weekly fence inspections and security drills in place, plans to step up fence inspections to once a week in response to this attack.
A similar attack happened in the same exhibit, five years ago, when another group of feral dogs attacked the same pronghorn which was mauled last night.
The Health Department would like to remind the public to exercise caution and avoid stray animals as their behaviors are highly unpredictable and they will generally react aggressively in an attempt to defend themselves from capture. Their reaction is natural animal "fight or flight" response.
Anyone who encounters these feral dogs or other stray dogs is asked to call Animal Services at 842-1000. Callers should press "0" to speak directly with Animal Services personnel to request assistance from an officer regarding stray animals.
The public may also call the police department’s non-emergency dispatch at 832-4400 to request assistance from an Animal Control Field Officer. If the incident is a life-threatening emergency the public should call 911.
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Aug. 22: Early this morning El Paso Animal Services successfully trapped two dogs in humane traps placed at the El Paso Zoo following an attack that left a pronghorned antelope and a sandhill crane dead. Ray Sim, Deputy Director of Animal Services, describes the animals as one male Pit Bull and one male Shepherd-Pit Bull mix. “They appear similar to two of the three animals reported by zoo security as killing the antelope and crane Wednesday evening” says Sim. The dogs have no tags, microchips, or other identification. The animals will be impounded in quarantine at Animal Services. They will be observed and fecal samples will be taken for medical evaluation and analysis by Dr. Medina, staff Veterinarian for Animal Services.
We are relieved to hear that two of the dogs are off the streets”, says Animal Curator John Kiseda. “We are grateful for the quick response and coordination with Animal Services,” said El Paso Zoo Director Steve Marshall. “We are also appreciative of the outpouring of support and concern by the community,” said Marshall.
Traps will remain in the immediate area of the El Paso Zoo. The El Paso Zoo states that they will continue to keep traps in the area where the dogs were spotted. Nancy Juvred, Safety and Security Coordinator, who responded to the attack late Wednesday night, says “we’re very grateful to Animal Services for allowing us to borrow their traps while we attempt to find the third suspected dog”.
The Department of Public Health would again like to remind the public to exercise caution and avoid stray animals as their behaviors are highly unpredictable and they will generally act aggressively in an attempt to defend themselves from capture. Their reaction is natural animal “fight or flight” response.
Anyone who encounters feral dogs or other stray dogs is asked to call Animal Services at 842-1000. Callers should press “0” to speak directly with Animal Services personnel to request assistance from an officer regarding stray animals.
The public may call the police department’s non-emergency dispatch at 832-4400 to request assistance from an Animal Control Field Officer. If the incident is a life-threatening emergency, the public is reminded to always call 911.
