Thieves cut through two chain link fences at the Humane Society of Northeast Texas animal shelter Thursday night, March 1st, to steal two pit bull dogs held in quarantine. These adult dogs, one male and one pregant female, are considered extremely dangerous because of their aggressive personalities and history of attacking people.

"These dogs have been quarantined in our facility before for biting someone at the owner's residence," stated Roxanne Hutson, executive director. "This time they sent a young woman, who was visiting the owner, to the emergency room with severe puncture wounds and injuries to her legs and arm. While held in our facility, these dogs continuously charged at kennel staff, biting at fencing, and growling and barking aggressively whenever staff worked in the quarantine area. They have hostile and unpredictable temperaments and as far as I know only the owner could handle them."

Longview Animal Control had petitioned the courts to have the dogs declared legally dangerous the day before they were stolen from the shelter. A hearing was scheduled for the following week to determine whether the owner would be able to reclaim the dogs. Once a court declares a dog dangerous, owners must keep them behind locked gates at all times, display warning signs around the property, and purchase a $100,000 liability insurance policy.

If you have any information about the location of these dogs, contact the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1110, Longview Animal Control at 903-237-1290, or the Humane Society of Northeast Texas at 903-297-2170.