Three Huskies impounded in deadly attack on alpacas

Three Siberian huskies have been taken into custody and their owner cited on accusations the dogs attacked a group of alpacas in a pasture southeast of Bend, killing two of them and injuring three others, two of which had to be euthanized, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

Deputies were dispatched around 5:45 a.m. Thursday to the 60000 block of Arnold Market Road on a report of three dogs that had killed two Suri alpacas and injured several others, said Sgt. William Bailey.

As deputies arrived in the area, the dogs were still in the pasture, but ran away as deputies approached, Bailey said.

An investigation determined two alpacas were killed initially during the attack by the three dogs, identified as Tasha, a 3-year-old, unaltered female; Buddy, an 8-month-old unaltered male; and Wolfers, a 6-year-old neutered male, the sergeant said.

Two more alpacas were euthanized by a veterinarian due to the severity of their injuries, Bailey said. A fifth was being monitored for minor injuries and was reported to be in improving conditions.

The dogs were tracked to a home about two miles away. The dog’s owner, Norman Jensen, 68, was contacted and the three dogs taken into custody.

They were lodged at the Humane Society of Central Oregon, pending the results of a hearing to be conducted by the county’s Dog Control Board of Supervisors, which determines the fate, under state law, of dogs that chase or wound livestock.

On Saturday, Jensen was issued citations for three counts each of animal nuisance, unlicensed dog and dog vs. livestock.

Bailey said the pasture is fully fenced, but one side, beside an Arnold Irrigation District Canal, had three strands of barbed wire, which allowed the dogs to get in and leave.