Residents fear neighborhood dog after vicious attacks

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Residents in one neighborhood are living in fear after a dangerous dog had no mercy on another animal.

Neighbors in a seemingly quiet Fort Lauderdale neighborhood said they have a big problem. "I put pepper spray on my keys," said Tari Rose. "I've never done that before."

Tari Rose and others said they have been terrorized by a pit bull that gets loose and attacks other animals. Judy Gregory said she was in her backyard when the dog jumped her fence, ran into her house and attacked a cat in the kitchen. "He just picked up the cat and had him by the stomach," said Gregory. "And was just shaking him and shaking him and shaking him."

Across the street, Robert Stroozas came home and found his cat mauled in the driveway. "The body was there with the trail of blood," said Stroozas. "And dried hair and everything else."

Phil Schmidt said he barely had time to pick up his small dog when the vicious animal charged. "It's something I don't want to go through again," said Schmidt. "That's for sure."

The pit bull has attacked a cat inside somebody's kitchen, children have literally jumped on top of cars to get away from the dog, but the vicious dog is nowhere to be found.

There was no answer at the door where neighbors said the dog lives and no dog in the backyard. Animal Control said they have been out only once since January. Police have been called several times but have never removed a pit bull.

Concerned residents said it is not enough. "To tell Marie," said Rose, "after the dog just had her daughter jump up on the car to get away from it, to say, to go chase down the dog and find out who the owner is, isn't that kinda Animal Control's job?"

Animal Care said, unless the dog is on the loose when they get there, there's just not much they can do.

Neighbors hope no one gets hurt before it happens again.

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