Five Dogs Involved in Recent Covelo Attack Captured
Round Valley Tribal Police capturing the dogs that were involved in the recent attack that left one man hospitalized [Pictures provided by Round Valley Tribal Police Chief Carlos Rabano]
Robert Molinari, the Director of Mendocino County’s Animal Services Department, told us that over the last two days, Round Valley Tribal Police captured five dogs after they were identified by the victim of the recent attack.
Molinari said, “All impounded dogs, based on the aggressive behavior displayed, pose a risk, threat, and liability to the community. Due to this, all the dogs that participated in the attack will be euthanized.”
Carlos Robano, the Chief of the Round Valley Tribal Police, told us his agency has been “authorized to purchase more dog tramps, kennels, and nooses in order to help us with our dog problem.”
Round Valley Tribe Vice President told us that Mendocino County’s Animal Services would assist Round Valley, despite the jurisdictional divide between the county and the tribe, as long as the Tribal Police were on scene.
This marks a successful collaboration between the tribe and county authorities, but more work is needed. Covelo resident Thomas Helmbrecht sent us videos of a recent encounter between his two dogs, a pair of brother livestock guardian dogs, and one of the feral dogs wandering the town.
On Tuesday, February 21, 2023, around 6:30 a.m., a wandering dog approached Helmbrecht’s fence barking which antagonized his dogs, clearly igniting their guardian instinct. He said he was “holding back one of my dogs from getting out and killing it.”
Helmbrecht has sent videos to animal control who have been in touch with the dog’s suspected owner, but despite this, he said “Nobody really does anything about this.”
Earlier: Wild Packs of Dogs Are Attacking Covelo Residents and Killing Livestock
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We live close by . These dogs were abandoned by growers when prices went down and left . They just tried to survive and became wild . Fine people who abandon animals and we can prob start with something here
It’s a terrible thing. They abandon their most loyal workers to starve to death. I found an abandoned pit bull way out where it had no chance of surviving…skin and bones and scared to death. It has become the most loyal companion. And it is sweet to all- cats, dogs and chickens. A great dog full of heart. I hate growers. Well…okay… I hate what the greed rush did here and the people it attracted to our area. Really disgusting people hiding behind “growing medicine” and other bullshit lies. [edit]
Thank you for what you did for this dog!
Good for you.
Well said. Did the same with a cat in my neighborhood. Hes asleep at my feet as I write this. There were quite a few more abandoned, but a couple juvie Mtn. Lions cleaned them up a couple years back.
So sad! Thank you for the information. Sad to think there are people who would abandon an animal, cold-hearted folks.
Craigslist is full of them. Ignorant trash people love breeding their animals.
There are fines aplenty in the law. Along with licensing and control regulations. What there isn’t is a will to enforce them.
Assholes
Good news. Thank you, Kym.
Well, that’s good news. When an economy crashes and desperation runs rampant, at least the big gov won’t let us be eaten by packs of wild dogs! I could only imagine doomsday zombie apocalype packs of 100’s of blood thirsty feral dogs!
Those dogs were just minions. I heard Covelo is run by the Doberman Gang.
Either you missed the earlier photos or you thought they were funny?
Dogs that attack either humans or livestock ought to be euthanised.
Yes, I love dogs. Had one or two most of my life. But dangerous animals need to be made safe. And “once they taste blood,” you can’t re-domesticate them.
Perhaps but livestock should be properly fenced, in a barn, or shepherded. The idea that racnchers should be able to leave heards or flocks unattended even overnight and then have the right to kill native predators is disgusting and embarrassingly stupid.
Wow! Just when I think people can not understand less, someone comes along that causes a reevaluation. My animals were grazing when attacked. Think they should be watched every moment of the day? Think I wasn’t there to see it? The dogs turned on me when I tried to defend my animals. We stood there looking at each other for a couple of seconds, me thinking I had made a big mistake, when luckily one turned and ran and the other followed. Over my great fencing with hot wire.
Sarcasm? Joke? Ignorance?
Such bs. Dogs can be trained and will kill and fight out of hunger and desperation obviously when abandoned. These dogs should be trained, they’re only here because humans abandoned them, and now they’re going to kill them 🙁 so sad.
A lot of young dogs kill one chicken on a farm only to be properly taught and never kill again.
I love dogs, but these dogs need to be put to sleep. I’m glad they trapped them before it became fatal.
Good riddance.
In the event they can find an owner via registration or chip, they should euthanize the owner(s) too for not keeping them secured on their property.
Even if any of those dogs was chippd and an owner found, any animal that bites someone as these dogs did, has to be warched and assessed for reentry into society. At least that is how it is supposed to work. Since the local Humboldt Cty animal shelter just announced they cannot take dogs now, and have some that will have to be euthanized if not adopted, I’m not sure if any animal shelter has the resources to manage and retrain dogs such as this.
People’s sense of responsibility goes out the window when it comes to their dogs. Almost no one trains their dog. They sometimes make a pitiful effort, and then reach a compromise with the animal, and live with that the rest of the animal’s life. Training an animal takes a lot of effort. Living with an untrained animal for 15 years takes much, much more effort. But most dog owners choose the latter.
We owe it to our community and our animals to train them. I’m not holding my breath. Anyone who imagines that there will be resources to train or re-home even a quarter of the abandoned animals has no concept of the magnitude of the problem. Sadly, euthanization will always be a necessary coping strategy.
But is true that public officials do not take aggressive dog issues seriously. Even if a dog has literally been caught in the act of killing livestock, is in the owners yard, covered in blood, the attitude is all on the side of the owner who didn’t control the dogs. Right up bto the point the same dogs attack a peron.
That has more to do sometimes with what laws are voted in and citizens being involved in government or not. Fortuna has no dangerous dog ordinance only one for nuisance dogs, for example. People rarely report to animal control when a dog attacks other dogs or shows other signs of aggression and so there is no case built over time just calls when something horrible happens. Also if community health specialist like they now have in Ithaca NY answer disturbances that are not crime related such as mental health calls then police have more time to address actual crimes. Also citizens have to vote to fund government if we want it to work then be all up in its business being sure funds are spent as close to optimally as possible. Animal Control in many cities is a very part time position.
There are plenty of State and even county regulations regarding dogs. And there are full time animal control officers. They’ve just forgotten the control part. One came out really fast when I said there was a kitten in a tree at my place that had been chased up a tree and wouldn’t come down even though I tried luring it down with food. However when I reported two dogs had killed one of my goats, they just brushed me off rudely, then when a neighbor located the dogs, she told me there was nothing they could do. Which was an out and out lie.
https://www.animallaw.info/statute/ca-dogs-consolidated-dog-laws
If we are to take this seriously, it must begin with funding for animal control to coduct investiagtive law enforcement and laws against backyard breeding.
Heck if even the licensing laws were enforced… but the reality is that, if the government tried to enforce them, there would be public outcry. And if they actually carried it out, they would end up with thousands of dogs in custody while their irresponsible owner just got a new dog. It’s an issue with dilemmas cause by the conflict between empathy and responsibility that cripples doing something effective about homeless encampment, mental illness, drug abuse, graffiti and a whole Lott of other problems. The public just can’t decide that anything ugly or unpleasant is still a necessity to prevent worse.
No one is breeding dogs that look like that for a profit. This is about not fixing loose animals and about abandoning animals. The owner wasn’t what is called a back yard breeder.
I would much much rather get a dog from a family who breeds a few nice personable dogs here and there, or lets their nice mutt have one litter than either a breeder/hoarder with small cages OR an AKC multi-champion breeder with kennels who leaves the dogs outside and rarely plays with them. Some back yard breeders are fine, some AKC breeders are awful. It’s more about individuals and how they treat their dogs.
No one should be hoarding animals, but OTOH a lot of AKC breeders-for-profit malign family breeders as back yard breeders because they don’t like the competition and want $3,000 – $5,000 for their animals.
Good news. Thanks Matt! Glad to see people got over the turf battle to solve a serious threat and quickly. Now find the owners and put them in prison. This is the only way to stop dog attacks.
Yes, a prison in every neighborhood to prevent crime. LOL?
Remember when drunk driving was not taken seriously? It wasn’t until people went to jail for drunk driving that mysteriously drinkers discovered things like designated drivers.
I love dogs. They can be some of the most loyal, helpful and loving companions. But these need to be put down. Humanely… Much as violent human predators should be put down. Humanely. For the good of everybody who is not violently attacking others…
I love animals in general but I really question that it was necessary for humans selectively breed dogs so willing to attach themselves to any piece of scrum who wouldn’t bother to worry about them.
Dogs suffering for the irresponsibility of people this time usually its kids
damn the bad growers that abandoned them when they bailed..they should be held responsible. You take an animal, you care for it for ever, you don’t just leave it behind when your done with your shit…
You care for that animal “Furr Ever”
Seems most people take care of them until thay are no longer cute puppies, then try to sell them on facebook or craigslist.
Our furry friends are with us for but a time, our furry friends are with us for all of their lives
There’s a great scene in the epic western movie “Little Big Man” that shows how to deal with an aggressive dog (Hint: you serve it for dinner). I really recommend seeing this film. Or seeing it again. Dustin Hoffman has the lead.
Anybody ever read White Fang?
One of our family’s favorites.
Good working collaboration nice job. Think about the lady up in Weott… that got attacked by the dogs. I wonder how she’s doing now? Dogs definitely can be dangerous if not in the right hands or control.
The problem isn’t being solved by rounding up a few dogs and euthanizing them. This is a larger problem that is systemic of the area. Until the tribe and municipalities come together to address the issue of animal abandonment and neglect, this will continue to happen. Sad for the dogs and sad for the victims.
Yes and not only here but all accross the country there are cities that have stray dog packs that didn’t a couple of decades ago. Address poverty and alienation much of the other problems that stem from it with resolve. Also people watch a few videos and think they are a dog whisperer…eye roll.
Never let a crisis go to waste, eh?
I don’t think that means what you think it means.
The full Churchill quote and meaning is pretty good
Native News Online did an article on the feral “Rez Dog” problem that seems to be prevalent across Native Lands last month. I would link it but that’s a little bit above my computer skill level.
It’s a good piece. Thank you. https://nativenewsonline.net/opinion/rez-dogs-are-a-real-and-sometimes-deadly-problem-on-indian-reservations
Good read. Thanks for the link.
Thanks for the link.
And on an entirely different note Rez Dogs got schedualed for another season. Playing on Hulu. Very good, funny as hell.
Sweet! I wasn’t sure, as it seemed to be neatly wrapped up.
Dogs didn’t stand a chance being bred and neglected by the pieces of trash that live out there. It’s sad there’s no standards in life anymore.
I thought there were already enough dog tramps ? in Covelo….
“Carlos Robano, the Chief of the Round Valley Tribal Police, told us his agency has been “authorized to purchase more dog tramps”
On a more serious note, What are the options for people who no longer want to keep their pets when Mendo Animal Control refuses to take the pet due to a full shelter, the shelter has been full for many years, many people are turned away and have to find a home or a place for the pet they no longer want, should they just go homeless when the next place they are moving won’t allow pets as many rentals don’t these days? Why hasn’t Mendocino County board of supervisors added more kennel space after 20 + years? Why do people from Covelo Laytonvilke Bell Springs have to drive all the way to Ukiah to retrieve a lost pet, perhaps it’s the enormous fees that our poor people have a hard time paying which is the reason the shelter is full? What is the county doing to increase capacity at the pound or waive adoption and pick up fees for people who lost their pet? The County bears responsibility in this, and lets not forget that Covelo and Round Valley and Laytonville are the abandoned Step kids of Mendocino County. Covelo and around valley should incorporate each of their towns and create a City Council and City Government if the want to see improvement and not just count on the Indian Council. This is ridiculous that in 2023 neither town has a City Government or town infrastructure and City Incorporation capable of taxing and providing services. Time to step into the modern era.
You can trap and euthanize. We have gotten to that place, but we wouldn’t be here if people altered their dogs..
let’s reverse this and work on affordable spay and neuter. Then we can enforce altering laws on the books..
im not just talking out the side of my neck. My partner and myself are Street Dawgs in lake county. We trap the strays, the dumped and the missing..
Pet fix is a program we are doing this year. Every county should look into it..