Pit Bulls Blamed For Horse And Donkey Killings Near Houston

HIGHLANDS, Texas (AP) — A Houston-area rancher has been on the lookout for wild dogs since eight of her miniature horses and a donkey were attacked and died or had to be euthanized.

Horse breeder Jeanne McClanahan of Highlands said Wednesday that she believes pit bulls were behind the attacks since Thanksgiving. McClanahan has about 100 miniature horses on about 90 acres and knows each of her animals by name.

She's been carrying a shotgun while on patrol to protect her animals. McClanahan says it's not safe for horses or people with the dogs still at large.

Officials with Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services recently gave McClanahan a trap to try to capture some of the dogs.

Authorities had no immediate information on who might own the dogs.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.