Loose
Animal Believed to be a wolf
By SAMANTHA EPPS
Independent-Mail
March 29, 2004
Residents in an Anderson County neighborhood said they feared for
their
lives until a loose animal they believed to be a wolf was shot
this weekend.
Several animals, which some neighbors believe to be full-blooded
wolves and some to be wolf-dog hybrids, are kept at 423 Van Martin
Road, off Old
Williamston Road. One of them got out of its cage this weekend
while its
owner was not home and roamed the neighborhood, residents said.
A neighbor shot the animal Sunday, claiming he feared for his life
after the
animal killed Christine Lahser's dog, Ms. Lahser said.
"He literally bit a hole into my miniature Daschund dog," she
said.
Ms. Lahser said someone comes once a week to feed the animals, and
they have not had food or water for several days. Joel and Tammy
Gravely, who live one street over from the house, said they did
not let their children or their cat out of the house over the
weekend, fearing the loose animal would attack.
They said someone has kept wolves at the home of Viki Pearson for
at least
10 years.
"Other than them howling at night, we have never really had a
problem with
them," Ms. Gravely said.
But the couple agreed they do fear what could happen if another of
the
animals gets loose.
"They know Viki, but they don't know us," Mr. Gravely said. "We
don't know
what could happen." Neighbors said five animals normally are kept
at the house.
Two animals paced inside cages Monday. One was limping and when
approached, another cowered inside a shelter.
The animals appear to be kept in separate cages in the yard, at
the corner
of Van Martin Road and Maple Drive. The cages are hard to see into
because of vegetation, and large shrubs have grown to cover the
house's windows and front door.
Capt. John Chambers, a spokesman for the Anderson County Animal
Control office, said it would be illegal for Ms. Pearson to have
full-blooded
wolves, which are considered wildlife.
Animal control officers were in the neighborhood at different
times
throughout the day and were fairly certain none of the animals was
loose,
Capt. Chambers said.
Ms. Pearson, who is listed on Anderson County tax records as the
owner of
the home, could not be reached for comment. No phone listing could
be found
for her, and no one answered the door at the house.
The situation is still under investigation, Capt. Chambers said.
Meanwhile, neighbors are concerned for the animals' welfare and
for their
own safety.
"There are children in this neighborhood," said Hallie Nosko.
"When they
come outside, I try to look out for them in case there is a wolf
on the
loose."
http://www.andersonsc.com/and/news/article/0,1886,AND_8203_2768127,00.html
|