The Ulster County Sheriff’s Office and animal welfare investigators are looking for a pair of dogs, believed to be pit bulls, which attacked llamas in High Falls.
According to the llama’s owner, who asked not to be identified, the attack occurred around 1:45 a.m. on July 23 when she was awakened by the shrieks of one of the animals. When she went outside, she said, she spotted her llama on the ground with a dog on top of it. Another dog joined in the fray when she grabbed a shovel to defend the llama.
“They were working together,” said the property owner. “Like a well-oiled killing machine.”
The woman said the dogs turned their attention to another llama and continued the attack until her husband shot one of the animals with a .22-caliber rifle. The dogs ran off leaving two llamas with serious lacerations and deep-tissue wounds. Sheriff’s deputies followed a blood trail into nearby woods but were unable to find the dogs. The property owner said both dogs were silver-and-gray pit bulls wearing matching purple body harnesses with red reflectors. She said the animals appeared to be well cared for.
Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum said deputies had asked local vets to be on the lookout for the dogs and conducted a canvass of local dog licenses and animal attack reports. So far, he said, they had not turned up any leads. Van Blarcum added that the Ulster County SPCA is assisting with the investigation. Anyone with information about the dogs is asked to call the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office at (845) 338-3640.
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