KMIR6 Investigates Vicious Dogs in Desert Hot Springs

CREATED Sep. 18, 2012

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  • People in a Desert Hot Springs neighborhood say vicious dogs are terrorizing children and killing pet cats. Things are so bad, one neighbor asked KMIR6 to investigate. Video by kmir6.com

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DESERT HOT SPRINGS - People in a Desert Hot Springs neighborhood say vicious dogs are terrorizing children and killing pet cats.
Things are so bad, one neighbor asked KMIR6 to investigate.
Neighbors says a pack of four dogs are chasing children, attacking other dogs and have killed two cats.
And the neighbors we spoke with told us the problem is one house on their block.
"Those dogs are mean dogs, those dogs, it's just a matter of time before the hurt or they kill someone," said Jennifer Langless Bartholomew, a Desert Hot Springs resident.
Jennifer's cat was Josephine.
Last week, her husband saw the pack of dogs attacking the cat.
"Her back was broken, they pulled her apart and broke her back," said Jennifer.
We talked to Mark Ersin, the man Jennifer says owns the dogs.
Mark said it is just a neighbor dispute between them, and his dog didn't kill their cat.
"She keeps coming up back and forth and said I don't have four dogs, I have only one dog, so this isn't so much about my dog, my dogs are not bothering anyone," said Mark.
So we asked other neighbors -- Summer Hinrichs says the dogs are Mark's and have chased children.
She worries about her kids.
"I was actually sitting on my own porch one night with both of my small dogs out here and their dogs came running up the hill like they were going to try to attack me and the dogs, so we had to get everything in the house, and my kids were out here also," said Summer.
A few more houses down the road, Dell Mautz says the pack tried to attack her dog.
"There was this pack of dogs trying to get into the window and the patio and there was one, the German Shepherd, was barking and lunging and trying to get in at my dog," said Dell.
Neighbors say the dogs are two Pit Bulls, one hound dog and a German Shepherd.
Mark says he only has a German Shepherd.
He did say animal control cited him for an unlicensed dog.
"My dog will get a license, not a problem, but what does animal control have to do with this, animal control had to do something with her making a call, false complaint," said Mark.
But Jennifer says her cat is dead, and it is his dog's fault.
"Honestly I would like to see justice, it's a shame because I don't think people are going to take this seriously until one of these kids that's in this neighborhood that are young gets bit," said Jennifer.
Animal control says the dog's owner is not cooperating with them as they look into this case, and they don't know where the dogs are being kept.
They intend to proceed with a dangerous dog restraining order.
Animal control also told us they have been to the house three times without getting an answer, and will return again.