Dangerous Dogs?

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Story Published: Dec 4, 2008 at 6:35 PM PST

By Holly Zuluaga

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RICHLAND--We've taken your outraged calls about the pack of pit bulls that turned on one of their own and killed it. The horrifying scene was all caught on tape.

Action News did some digging and uncovered that this isn't the first time there's been a problem with dogs at the home on Snow Avenue.

As shocking as the video was, it isn't as shocking as what was being done about it: nothing.

Action news showed the video to City of Richland officials to see why a neighbor still had to live in fear after four pit bulls attacked and killed another in a fenced yard. When we asked the first time, the City and Animal Control told us their hands were tied because the attack was on the owner's property.

But it turns out there's a law already on the books in Richland: if a dog kills another animal, anywhere, it can be declared dangerous.

The City says the code was created a long time ago, but because these type of attacks rarely occur it was hard to track it down.

One more thing: this isn't the first time a dog was killed at the owner's house.

Earlier this year Animal Control told Action News that two Pit Bulls turned on each other, but because no one witnessed the attack the case was dropped.

Animal Control says dog ordinances have been under review since spring of this year because of discrepancies between city and state laws.

Richland hopes to have their codes adjusted by next month.

Right now the Prosecutor is reviewing the tape to decide if the dogs will be deemed dangerous.

If they are, the dogs would have to be kept in a six sided kennel. That's a cage with a sealed top so they can't get out.

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