Feral Dogs Killing Cumberland Pets

Animal Control officials say at least 10 packs of wild dogs are roaming neighborhoods in Cumberland County. Residents have recently reported feral dogs attacking or killing family pets. County Animal Control director John Lauby says more owners are abandoning their pets as they struggle with an economy still coming out of recession. Dogs instinctively join packs after being without food for long periods of time. Lauby says some residents have been feeding the wild dogs, which takes away his ability to trap them.

John Lauby: "We end of having to shoot them. And as distasteful as that is, it's better to do that to the feral dogs than to let them get into such a large pack that they could actually end up killing a child or killing somebody."

Lauby says residents who come into contact with an unfamiliar dog should not feed it. He says the Cumberland County Animal Shelter is at normal occupancy, about 85 percent full.