By Hayley Kappes

Correspondent  

Published March 5, 2010

LA MARQUE — Officials were searching Thursday for six dogs responsible for killing 10 goats and injuring three others during separate attacks Wednesday, police said. 

One brown and three black dogs of unknown breeds were blamed for attacking five goats about 2:30 p.m. in the 2700 block of state Highway 3, La Marque police officer Danielle Herman said. The homeowner chased the dogs off, but two goats died from their injuries, Herman said.  

Police contacted residents in the immediate area about the attack, and animal control officers placed humane traps on the property, Herman said. 

Officials patrolled the area Wednesday and Thursday in search of the dogs, Herman said. 

Animal control officials checked nearby homeowners’ dogs to see whether they matched the descriptions of the dogs involved, Galveston County Health District spokesman Kurt Koopmann said. 

Animals involved in vicious attacks like this often are euthanized, Koopmann said. 

Another attack was reported about 3:15 p.m. in the 2000 block of Westward Avenue, La Marque officer Brian Auzston said.  

A neighbor reported two brown medium-sized pit bulls attacked eight goats in the fenced pasture, Auzston said. 

Animal control officials patrolled a 5-mile radius in search of the dogs.  

It was unknown whether the dogs are pets or strays. 

Residents are advised to call police immediately if they see dogs matching the description. 

Janet Henske, whose father, Elmo Henske, owns the goats, said all eight died.  

Henske gave her 88-year-old dad the goats from her own herd to eat weeds on the property, she said.  

Three of the goats were younger than 2 months. 

Police told Henske they thought the dogs had been trained for fighting because of the vicious way the goats were killed, she said.  

Henske said she would place traps on her father’s property.