When a Cocoa police officer responded to a loose dog call Monday on Circle Drive, one dog immediately ran tried to attack him.  

  • Dogs got out of yard, killed a cat
  • Owner cited for animals at large, property damage
  • Dogs will go back to owner

Standing near the officer was Councilwoman Brenda Warner. She reported the loose dogs after coming home and hearing barking at her next door neighbor.

“They chased me, and they chased the police officer, and they went after my dogs. And I have never seen them before, I have no idea where they came from. But they are a little on the aggressive side,” said Warner.

Brevard County deputies confirm the loose dogs made their way into a porch with three cats, killing one. But the house is not the dogs' home. The dogs live on Alamanda Lane, two miles from where they killed the cat.

The dog’s owner showed up to the scene and said she’s unsure how they got out.

“I have no idea. I checked the fence. I don’t know if someone maybe let them out, because the hole that they dug did not go completely under the fence for them to be able to actually get out,” said owner Jennifer Housenga.

Police did have to call in animal control to get the dogs off the porch. Housenga said she was surprised her dogs acted so aggressively.

“I am very, very, very disappointed. They're bad. I can hear them breathing in there,” said Housenga.

And because the dogs are up to date on their vaccines and do not have a prior history of aggression, they get to go home with their owner.

“Yes, I am going to make sure I get them back. I don’t care if I've got to come fix the lady's door and wall, whatever happen, myself. And get her a new cat, because I can only imagine how she feels,” said Housenga.

Warner said her neighbor, owner of the killed cat, is very shaken by this unexpected attack and wants to see stricter laws for certain breed types.

As for the owner of the dogs, she was given four citations, two per dog. The first citation is for animals at large and the second is for causing property damage. The dogs are also required to remain quarantined for 10 days.