Dogs named in mauling not put to death

SANTA FE (KRQE) - The Pit Bulls accused of mauling a Chihuahua and then attacking its owner will get another chance to live, at least for the next two months, after a judge extended the deadline for a decision.

Thursday afternoon, a Santa Fe judge told the owner of the pit bulls he better work fast to find a home for them or they could be euthanized.

The dogs are accused of attacking a Chihuahua named Lillie, her owner and two other people who tried to stop the attack.

A judge would have to deem the dogs as vicious and then decide that they cannot be rehabilitated before ordering them to be put to death. That judge gave the owner until Thursday to find a sanctuary that will accept the dogs to keep the dogs alive.

In court, the dogs’ owner said he did not get a shelter to agree to take in the animals yet.

“He’s contacted about 70 places, 70 shelters, or pit bull shelters, across the country and he's been unsuccessful,” Defense Attorney Tom Clark said.

Clark said there's one place in Albuquerque that might accept the dogs but they won’t know until Friday. The judge then extended the deadline to February.

The City of Santa Fe and the victim’s owner, Anne Stills, said the dogs are vicious.

“Having been attacked like this and seen my companion killed and torn apart I would like to see them put down, I guess,” Stills said.

However, that wasn't the only issue brought up in court. The pit bulls’ owner was supposed to pay a $500 bond for each dog by Thursday but he told the courts that he didn't have the money.

Clark questioned if his client should pay at all saying bonds are for people released from jail not animals at a city shelter.

The judge postponed that decision too.

“I think she put it off or wanted to make a determination on if she had the authority to really make the owner of a dog post a bond as potential money to cover costs,” Clark said.

A cost the city is covering to house the dogs.  So far the bill is up $1,680.

The Chihuahua's owner said whatever he pays won't match what she lost; her best friend.

“I miss her so much, she's irreplaceable,” Still said.