Yorktown residents calling for action on dangerous dogs

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  Hissy and several other pet cats were killed on July 20. (Contributed photo)

  Hissy and several other pet cats were killed on July 20. (Contributed photo)
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  Packs of dogs have been roaming Yorktown and killing small animals. At least one vulnerable person has been attacked by stray dogs. Concerned citizens have asked the city council to do something about the dangerous dogs, however the justice of peace municipal court can make rulings on animal cases. (Contributed photo)

  Packs of dogs have been roaming Yorktown and killing small animals. At least one vulnerable person has been attacked by stray dogs. Concerned citizens have asked the city council to do something about the dangerous dogs, however the justice of peace municipal court can make rulings on animal cases. (Contributed photo)

At least 10 citizens attended the Aug. 26 Yorktown City Council meeting to voice concern over a roaming pack of dogs, preying on cats and small animals. On Saturday, July 20, a pack of dogs went on a spree throughout town, viciously killing pet cats, according to Kristen Schustereit.

And the killing continues, said several residents at the meeting.

Schustereit, whose two cats were killed, documented the dogs at various locations on the 20th as well as photographed the corpses of the cats. Her Facebook page shares the information and she brought print outs to share with the city council.

The July city council meeting, when citizens first wanted to bring up concerns, was canceled due to lack of items for an agenda, according to City Manager Michele Warwas.

At the August meeting, Carla Sullivan suggested that her husband, Scott, who is employed by the Cuero Animal Control and has all necessary certifications, could work for Yorktown on his day off.

She also reported that one of the dogs had been shot and she was concerned about stray bullets if people took matters into their own hands. As a longtime animal rescue activist, Sullivan also reported on a husky across from the nursing home, that had been tied up and had died of dehydration.

Mayor Bill Baker responded to the stray dog concerns by reporting what had been done so far. He said first, they had consulted an attorney, and secondly, they had reached out to a veterinarian. He did not report what their advice had been.

“Our issue is what will we do with it if we catch a dog? Will we put them down?” he said, indicating there were legal issues associated with such actions.

Several residents in the audience indicated they were okay with the euthanization of dogs that have killed - just to kill.

“It's not something we take lightly. We want to do what’s best for everyone and we are working on something,” Baker said.

The July 31 edition of The Yorktown News View documented the killing spree of July 20. Sheriff Carl Bowen had commented that his office could not take action on the issue without a ruling from the Commissioners Court.

Precinct 3 County Commissioner James Kaiser represents the Yorktown area on the county court.

The roaming packs of killer dogs have been an issue for many years in Yorktown. The city has previously given $5,000 to the DeWitt County spay and neuter program. The 2025 proposed city budget has allotted $20,000 toward animal control, a $15,000 increase.

Attorney Brian Cromeens, the unopposed GOP candidate for 24th Judicial District Attorney, said that the justice of peace has jurisdiction over animal hearings.

According to the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center, “Munic-ipal Judges preside over hearings to determine if animals are a danger to persons or other animals and also to determine if animals are being cruelly treated. Dangerous and cruelly treated animals may be seized under warrant from municipal court and, in some cases, destroyed.”