Cumberland County Animal Services needs the public’s assistance to find three white German Shepherd mix dogs that have attacked and killed livestock in the Westover area this month.
Cumberland County Animal Services initially received reports in the Spring of multiple dogs running loose after being abandoned by an unidentified owner. One of the dogs was captured in April and placed with a rescue in Virginia.
On Nov. 10, Animal Services received a report that three loose white dogs were attacking goats in the Westover area. Residents have reported three separate attacks with 11 goats being killed in two different sections of the area along Bonanza Drive.
“The areas the dogs have been sighted in are heavily populated, with pockets of thickly overgrown woods, which has made capturing them very difficult,” said Cumberland County Animal Services Director Elaine Smith. “The dogs have also traveled more than 2 ½ miles from their original sighting.”
Animal Services has actively pursued the feral dogs, but the animals quickly flee whenever approached by Animal Services officers. The department is attempting to humanely capture the dogs with the use of tranquilizer darts, special traps and snares.
“We need public assistance in reporting the location of the dogs so that we can continue efforts to contain them. The dogs have not been aggressive toward people, and we have not been able to get within 50 feet of them,” Smith said.
To report sightings of the dogs or attacks to other animals, call Animal Services at 910-321-6852 Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5p.m. For reports after the department’s business hours, call the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office at 910-323-1500.