Doomed dog attacks kennel of kittens

As office personnel with Caldwell County Animal Care and Control escorted a lady through the shelter searching for her lost cat Wednesday, they made a sad and shocking discovery.

One of the remaining pit bulls from the Sigmon property in Dudley Shoals had escaped its three-foot space and killed six kittens in a neighboring kennel.

“We took many precautionary measures to keep the public, the animals and staff members safe,” Animal Care and Control Director Chad Barr said. “This is an unfortunate incident. We haven't ever had anything like this happen before.”

Barr said it appears that the pit bull, said to be 40 to 60 pounds, used its teeth and jaw strength to remove the metal grate that sits on the drainage system at the back of the kennel. He said that once the grate was removed, the dog was able to maneuver its way through the drainage ditch, which is approximately 7 inches wide and 7 inches deep, under a retaining wall and into the next kennel, which housed nine cats.

The draining system, Assistant Health Director Betsy Pierce explained, is connected to all of the kennels and is used to wipe down the kennels each day. She said the kennels are all reinforced to keep the animals safe, and noted that building is constructed on a cement slab.

“We did everything we could to keep these animals safe,” Pierce said. “We never fathomed that anything like this could happen.”

Barr said he was informed that when his employees discovered the situation, the kittens were lying bloody in the kennel next to the pit bull, which also was scratched up. The other three kittens managed to slide into the drainage system and were saved by personnel. None of the deceased kittens had any identification on them, and the pit bull has been euthanized.

“Animal Control will do what is necessary to prevent a reoccurrence and to keep the animals that are here safe,” Barr said. “There is an increased risk when housing animals of this nature, but we regret that anything like this has taken place.”

Joyce Duncan, who witnessed the situation, said she was devastated when she saw it. She compared it to a “horror story” and was surprised the dog could get through the drainage system.

“It completely blows my mind the dog was able to get through,” Duncan said. “I wanted to see the drain, but they wouldn't let me in to see it because they said it was under investigation.”

Barr said he is prepared to work with the county maintenance department to do some maintenance or reconstruct the way personnel wash the waste. In the meantime, Barr said his staff are closely monitoring the 10 or so pit bulls still being housed at the shelter and have put cinder blocks on some of the grates to prevent the dogs from chewing them up.

“These dogs have now been in the kennel for more than one month,” Barr said. “Many of them are showing signs of boredom and having kennel stress.”

So far, 20 of the pit bulls seized from property of Rockey and Jennifer Sigmon have been euthanized, Barr said. There still are approximately 17 dogs remaining.

“We are continuing our efforts to place the remaining dogs with rescue agencies. But like us, they have limited space,” Barr said. “The remaining dogs still need rehabilitation, to be worked and socialized. But, none of them pose an immediate health threat to other animals.”

Animal Control officers discovered 81 pit bulls on property off Oran Yount Lane in Dudley Shoals April 2 after officers with the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office conducted a drug raid at the residence of Rockey and Jennifer Sigmon.

Four of the dogs were deemed to be in need of immediate medical treatment and were taken to Lake Hickory Veterinary Hospital to receive that attention, leaving 77 on the property.

A few days later, when Animal Control officers were instructed to seize the remaining dogs by the DA's Office, officers discovered that more than half of those dogs had been removed from the property.

All 37 of the dogs seized were vaccinated, identified, photographed and taken to secure locations in Caldwell and surrounding counties.

Officers also seized paraphernalia “indicative of dog-fighting,” including a breeding rack, a parting stick, strength-training tools and a guide to breeding and training pit bulls.

Officers also discovered documentation that appeared to be a pedigree list.

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