ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, August 29, 1996 TAG: 9608290061
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI STAFF WRITER
Al Capone and Boss seemed fearless Wednesday morning as they ran through the Northwest Roanoke neighborhood.
It took a couple of police bullets to stop them.
But by then - in mere minutes - the two pit bulls had killed a poodle and maimed a Labrador puppy. The pit bulls' owner has been charged in the incidents.
The rampage began just before 7 a.m. when the pit bulls apparently jumped their fence on Madison Avenue Northwest.
Police said the 2-year-old dogs first mauled a poodle at 604 McDowell Ave., across from the Burrell Nursing Center. When a patrol officer pulled up, the black poodle was already dead. And the pit bulls were not in sight.
Another person called for help on Madison Avenue, the next block over: Al Capone and Boss had cornered a year-old Labrador-mix named Homeless and were biting it. Homeless and the pit bulls were acquainted, lived only several houses apart and had played on several occasions, said Homeless' 15-year-old owner, David Mills.
But Wednesday morning, the pit bulls were relentless.
"They drove the dog outside to the flower beds, then to the sidewalk," Mills said. "Then Al Capone lunged at the police officer and he shot it. Then Boss tried to lunge" and the police officer fired another shot.
That bullet went through Boss' nose and into the dog's left front leg.
Al Capone died at the scene. Homeless was found on Rutherford Avenue, suffering from bites. Late Wednesday, the dog was sedated and in stable condition at Roanoke Animal Hospital on Franklin Road Southwest.
Boss was at the same veterinary hospital in stable condition, according to Dr. David Rolfe. Boss is in heat, which may explain both of the dogs' aggressive behavior, he said.
Roanoke police charged the pit bulls' owner, Geraldine Harper, with owning dangerous dogs, owning dogs without giving them rabies shots or having dog licenses, and letting her dogs run at large. Harper could not be reached for comment.
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