2 Pit bulls attack, kill miniature horse.....

TWO PIT BULLS ATTACK, KILL VALUABLE MINIATURE HORSE
Friday, November 18, 2005

ANOLA, MAN.

A valuable miniature horse was mauled to death by a pit bull and a pit-bull cross, an animal control officer confirmed Wednesday.
"He was the cutest little sucker you'd ever want to see," said Len Turcotte, who works for the Rural Municipality of Springfield east of Winnipeg.

Cody Cookie was a registered American miniature horse that stood 71 centimetres tall -- about thigh-high. It didn't stand a chance against the dogs, Turcotte said.

"They chased the poor little thing in its pen," Turcotte said.

The husband of the horse's owner hopes the dogs that killed Cody will be put down.

Under Springfield's bylaw, the dogs' owner faces a $75 fine, boarding fees and restitution for the horse's owner, Turcotte said.

"As far as I'm concerned, the fines are not enough," he said.

Springfield is one of the few Manitoba rural municipalities that doesn't have a ban on pit bulls.

"We didn't see the attack," said the husband, who asked that his name not be used.

"My wife came out and saw the two dogs and locked them up in a box stall," he said.

"Then she walked in (Cody's) pen and freaked out. He was still alive . . . (and) she called the vet."

But there was nothing that could be done for the tiny horse.

Illustration:
2 photos by CP
1. MAULED: Miniature horse Cody Cookie is seen in this undated photo from Springfield, Man. The 71-centimetre registered American miniature horse was mauled to death by a pit bull and a pit-bull cross.
2. ATTACKERS: Animal control officer Len Turcotte holds a pair of dogs yesterday in Springfield, Man., after the dogs mauled a miniature horse.

Here is another article with a few more details.


FATAL PIT BULL MAULING

Miniature horse never had a chance

Most parts of Manitoba have banned dog breed

The Associated Press



ANOLA, MAN.
A valuable miniature horse was mauled to death by a pit bull and a pit bull cross running at large, an animal control officer confirmed Wednesday.
“He was the cutest little sucker you’d ever want to see,” said Len Turcotte, who works for the Rural Municipality of Springfield, east of Winnipeg.
Cody Cookie was a registered American miniature horse who stood only 71 centimeters tall — about thigh high. He didn’t stand achance against the dogs, Turcotte said.
“They chased the poor little thing in its pen,” said Turcotte, who arrived at the horse-breeder’s farm near Anola, Man., last week after a veterinarian was unable to save the wounded stallion.
The husband of the horse’s owner hopes the dogs that killed Cody will be put down. Under Springfield’s bylaw, the dogs’ owner faces a $75fine,boarding fees and restitution for the horse’s owner, said Turcotte.
“As far as I’m concerned, the fines are not enough.”
Pit bulls have been banned in Winnipeg for 15 years, and many communities have outlawed the breed throughout Manitoba, Canada and the United States. Earlier this year, a law took effect banning pit bulls from the entire province of Ontario.
Springfield is one of the few Manitoba rural municipalities that doesn’t have a ban on pit bulls.
Cody was kept alone in the separate pen where the attack occurred.
The registered horse was worth $3,000 and the couple was paid $500 each time he was hired out to stud.
The dogs are being held in a pen at Turcotte’s place for 10 days to ensure they aren’t rabid. Both the horse’s owner and her husband say they know the dogs’ owners but refused to identify them. “We didn’t see the attack,” said the husband, who asked that his name not be used.
Turcotte is concerned about people who let their dogs run at large, not the breed of the animal. “They’re actually pretty nice dogs, ”he said. He added he has on several occasions seen dogs running in packs, then attacking farm animals. No amount of good breeding will keep dogs from “the thrill of the chase” when the “pack mentality” kicks in, he suggested.

I agree with the animal control guy. It is not a breed specific problem. It is a problem with people letting dogs run at large. Of course in the country there is really no by-laws to stop it.