Mobile Zoo animals killed by dogs

WILMER, Ala. (WALA) - The Mobile Zoo is dealing with another tragedy after what seems to be a vicious dog attack. Zoo employees are fed up with attacks.

Zookeeper Lacey Clark said, "They’re slowly getting picked off one by one."

After a night of hearing dogs howl Clark awoke to a grim discovery, a dead ostrich.  

"She was probably laying down bedding, sleeping. And the dogs just got her neck and that was the end of it," Clark said.

A dead pregnant European red deer. "There’s hair all along the side of the road from where they were fighting,” Clark said.

Two other animals were injured. "One has a deep gash in the front. She looks like that that will heal on its own," she said. "The other had a bunch of hair missing from her neck right down to the bone and a deep gash down to the muscle in the front and back, so she will have to get seen by the vet A.S.A.P."

Clark and the owner are extremely disturbed by the attacks.

"It's frustrating. We do our best to make sure the public is protected from animals, and animals are protected from the public. Now we have to start protecting these animals from dogs," Clark said.

The electric fence didn't even deter the dogs. Clark said the canines tore through the fence.

Now the Zoo is re-thinking security.

"There is going to be some 24-hour night surveillance for the dogs right now. Mr. Hightower is going to put up some traps to see if we catch any. We’re also thinking of getting a guard dog ourselves," Clark said.

The Zoo doesn't want to kill the dogs, but Clark feels nearby owners should be more accountable.

"It's also the owner’s responsibility. There's a leash law. Spaying and neutering is a big thing," he said.

Measures that will save the lives of many animals in the future.

Just last month, Clark said the Zoo had another dog attack. All of the emus and a deer were killed.