Pet dog killed by pack of pit bulls in Olney

OLNEY (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police are investigating after a pet dog was killed by a pack of pit bulls in the Olney section.

It happened on Sunday in the Olney section.

The owner of 3-year-old cockapoo Lola says she never had a chance.

Antonette Rivera says this group of neighborhood pit bulls killed Lola Easter Sunday.

She said, "They had her head through the whole fence. The one had her paw, the one had her neck."

The owner of the pit bulls allegedly let them loose in a lot and they targeted Lola in the Rivera's fenced-in backyard in the 5200 block of North American Street.

Lola's so-called sidekick, Max, survived. Rivera and her boyfriend tried to fight off the dogs, and Rivera was attacked too.

Neighbors tell Action News they live in fear of the animals and people run when they see them.

Rachel McPherson of Olney said, "They'll jump on top of the car if they see them running towards them coming out the door."

Cynthia McDonald of Olney said, "I be careful when I let my dog out. I peek to make sure they are not in the back."

Rachel McPherson lives next door to them in the two hundred block of Wellens Street.

"They should be taken before somebody dies, not a dog but a human," she said.

Philadelphia police responded and are still investigating. For now they have issued a citation to the owner for the Easter incident.

In a statement the animal control and care team of Philadelphia says they have issued numerous citations to the dogs' owner for other incidents. But their "officers cannot file dangerous dog cases or legally remove a dog from an owner's property except in certain circumstances and with an applicable court order."

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