One dog has been reportedly caught, and the vicious dog situation may be progressing to a conclusion. The pack of dogs that have struck fear and anger in the community has been an issue that has gone on for too long. Many shouting it’s only a matter of time before a child is attacked. The suspected owner, John Murray, has been cited by the police department, sheriff’s office, and CDFW for dogs at large. According to the Lassen Superior Courthouse logs, Murray has also been called to court multiple times, failing to appear in August and November of last year. Murray has been called to court once more for arraignment on the 27th.
Police Chief Ryan Cochran will be presenting a report to the council next week on the operations and functions of the Lassen Animal Control Shelter in response to the communities concerns, and will likely garner a large crowd of those who are frustrated with the lack of effort.
The city and county partner for the shelter, as the city owns the building and provides the majority of its funding, while the county provides the staffing resources and operates the shelter. Pete Heimberg, with the county’s public works department, will also present to the council.
The latest accusation of the dogs’ viciousness was last week when a family Alpaca was savagely killed. A State Trapper with the office of wildlife services confirmed that the alpaca was killed by dogs, the home being just down the way from Cheney Creek Rd. , where the suspected owner of the dogs now resides.
The state trapper said evidence of the attack included clearly identifiable tracks, the location of where the dogs had broke through the animal’s enclosure, and the way the alpaca was attacked, as it was consistent with how a dog would take down an animal, bite, and wounds also confirmed the attack.
The trapper of nearly four decades said there was no indication this could have been done by any other animal, that it was plain and obvious dogs did. Though he cannot say which dogs attacked the family pet, it’s difficult to find any other conclusion.
The city council meets on Wednesday, February 15th, at City Hall at 5 PM.
