Philadelphia Dog Mauling Spawns Investigation Into Animal Control
Todd Quinones reports...
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – After an autopsy confirmed that 50-year-old Carmen Ramos was killed by her own pit bulls on Tuesday night, many want to know why the animals were returned to the home after they had previously attacked two neighbors.
Now, this case has reached one of the highest offices in City Hall, and the City Managing Director is handling an internal investigation into animal control.
Meanwhile, Carmen's niece says her aunt wasn't afraid of the five pit bulls she owned with her husband Jose Alvarez.
"She loved her husband. She loved her dogs, basically that was her," Jenifer Velezequez said.
However, neighbors along West Carey Street say those same dogs attacked two people only two weeks ago.
Gus Castro says that after two of the dogs got loose and bit him, the animals were taken to animal control.
When asked how soon the dogs returned to the house, Castro said, "About 3 or 4 days later."
Now, City Managing Director Brian Abernathy is investigating to see if proper procedures were followed.
He tells Eyewitness News that typically, animal control will keep a dog if charges are filed by police.
But that does little to resolve the anger of neighbors here on the North Philadelphia block.
"Got a lot of kids around this neighborhood. Obviously they don't care about anyone's safety," Castro said.
"That's a shame a person has to die the way that person did. I don't think a human being deserves to die that way," neighbor Victor Viruet said.
Abernathy says charges are still possible pending outcome of the investigation.
Reported by Todd Quinones, CBS3
