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Del City residents report pack of dogs killing and mutilating neighborhood cats; police promise extra patrols
Summary
Residents described multiple dead and mutilated cats in Del City neighborhoods during public comment at the Aug. 4 council meeting. Police said night-shift checks and drone operations are under way and urged residents to call dispatch with sightings.
Residents of Del City told the City Council on Aug. 4 that an apparent pack of dogs has been killing and mutilating community cats in several neighborhoods, prompting the mayor and police chief to promise extra night patrols and targeted searches.
Drew Balby, a resident of the Chathamau neighborhood, told the council he posted on social media after neighbors reported multiple mutilated cats and supplied disturbing photos. “This was July 1 that I made this post,” Balby said, adding that by July 26 several cats had been found arranged in a circle and others were found with severe injuries. He said one neighbor recorded the same dogs on camera and that a Jeep was damaged, quoted at about $4,000 in repairs.
The concern prompted several additional speakers at the council’s public-comment period. Stacy Ray, who said she feeds community cats at 3131 Southeast 16th Street, told the council her household had lost six cats to the attacks and said animal control staff had discouraged her efforts to report the problem. “They told me I could shoot them, and call the police,” Ray said she was told by an animal control worker, adding that response had been inconsistent when residents reported vicious animals.
Timothy Merritt told the council he later found video showing dogs entering his yard and killing a cat on his patio in the early-morning hours. “They came on my property, my patio, and took my cat,” Merritt said.
Mayor Eason asked the police chief to arrange special patrols. Chief Burger said investigators were aware of video evidence and had increased night-shift checks and were using drone operators to try to locate the pack. “Our night shift with our drone operators have been looking for the pack of dogs running around,” Chief Burger said. He asked residents to call Del City dispatch as soon as they see the dogs and to provide as much information as possible so officers can respond quickly. The council and chief emphasized that officers would be dispatched immediately for reports of vicious animals.
Council members and residents pressed for more accountability for owners of dogs involved in attacks. The chief said the department has authority to ban animals from the city once ownership is established and that identifying owners is a priority. The mayor and chief encouraged residents to capture video where safe and to provide dates and times to police to aid the investigation.
No ordinance changes were adopted during the meeting. Council members referred the matter to the police department for continued investigation and for follow-up reports to the council if the pattern persists. Residents were directed to call Del City dispatch at the nonemergency number reported at the meeting for immediate response to vicious-animal sightings.
The issue was raised during the public-comment portion of the Aug. 4 meeting; the council did not take legislative action that night but authorized and publicized increased police attention and investigative activity.
