(CMR) A female pitbull has been euthanized last week after being one of several dogs that fatally attacked local celebrity “Jack, the donkey”.
Jack was himself euthanized after sustaining severe injuries from a three dog attack in November. The Department of Agriculture confirmed Wednesday (31 January) that Jack’s injuries sustained in the vicious attack were deemed too severe, and the 38-year old donkey was put to sleep on-site at Cayman Riding school on 4 November.
Animal control officers deployed traps after the initial attack, but no dogs were caught, said the DOA. However, on 11 January, a female pit bull was captured at the riding school and surrendered to DOA.
In accordance with the animal's law, the dog was put down on 26 January, after no owner was identified.
Jack was stable at Pedro Castle for many years after he was purchased by former Tourism Attraction Board CEO, Gilbert Connolly in late 2006.
Jack was brought from North Carolina to the Cayman Islands in 1985 by the late Edna Moyle as a Taco Bell mascot. Jack was subsequently sold to Billy Ray Martinez, who then sold Jack to Mr. Connolly.
“The reason for purchasing Jack for Pedro St. James was to enhance the experience for children visiting the National Historic Site, and to make it more interactive for them,” Connolly explained to the media several years ago.
“Donkeys played a very important role in Cayman’s history and for many years they were the main mode of transport for residents on the islands.”
After spending a decade at Pedro he was transferred to the riding school last spring for better care but sadly his says were cut sure when the pack of dogs went into his enclosure and attacked him.
It is understood that the school has video footage of the dogs and the search continues for the remaining two dogs.
Stacy Hurlston, Jack’s former caretaker at Pedro St. James was devastated by the news:
“I didn’t want him to die that way, I would’ve preferred just from old age, or arthritis, but the injuries, so they say, it was so severe that he had to be euthanized,”
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