LAS CRUCES - Two pitbulls who got loose from their yard in the Legends West subdivision have been euthanized after they killed a poodle in neighboring yard, a police report states.

Monica Arras told the Sun-News that the two large dogs came into her yard while she and her 11-year-old daughter and their two dogs were outside Monday evening, just after dark. Arras was able to get her daughter and one dog inside the house, but their poodle, Tommy, stayed outside.

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Arras said the two large dogs were barking in the yard, preventing her from going outside for 20 minutes. She said the dogs looked vicious and had chains around their necks, as if they had broken loose from restraints.

She called Animal Control. Also, a neighbor, who is a police officer, responded to the scene. The animal control officer and the neighbor were able to catch one of the pitbulls in her yard, but the other one took off and returned to its own yard before escaping again into the surrounding neighborhood.

At this point, Arras didn't know what happened to Tommy.

"We thought he was hiding, because it was already getting dark, so we really couldn't see much," she said.

But officers informed her that Tommy was dead.

Arras said the incident left her and her daughter traumatized. Her daughter missed school the next day and is receiving counseling, she said.

"It was very traumatic, being held in our house, not being able to go out there and help him, because the dogs were out there on our property," Arras said.

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A police report notes the animal control officer was able to contact the owner of the pitbulls, who returned to his residence. By the time the owner returned, the pitbull on the run had again returned to its yard.

The owner, Leo Francis Moyer, was informed that the pitbulls had killed another dog and he relinquished them to animal control for euthanasia. Moyer was cited for two counts of failing to restrain his dogs.

'Just trying to protect us'

Though Tommy was just 6 years old, Arras said he still acted like a puppy.

"Every morning as soon as he felt us getting up, he was up and ready to go. He loved cuddles, he loved licking our faces. He wasn't aggressive, he was a French poodle. He was just trying to protect us, protect his property, but he was no match for those big dogs," she said.

The family is especially heartbroken, Arras said, because three days prior to Tommy's death, they had to put down their cat.

Arras said she also no longer feels safe in her neighborhood.

"It's the violation of our privacy," she said. "You have a yard, and I have an alarm system and you think your family is safe, and these dogs just came in."

The law

A city of Las Cruces ordinance requires pets be on a leash whenever away from their owner's property.

"In the city of Las Cruces we do not recognize voice commands because the ordinance says on leash," said Las Cruces Animal Control Supervisor Gino Jimenez. "You can have an obedient dog, but it has to be on a leash."

Also, city ordinance mandates pets not be chained or tethered to a fixed point for more than two hours at a time, or for more than four hours at a time to a trolley line.

Fences must be tall enough and strong enough to keep the animal in their yards.

"That includes cats," Jimenez said.

He also said that a home owner has the right to protect themselves and their property.

"How you do that is up to you but that individual is going to have to justify the means they used to protect themselves from that animal," he said.

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What to do if a dog attacks

Jimenez said if a person finds themselves being threatened by a stray dog, the best thing to do is put something between them and the dog, such as a backpack.

"Don't turn your back, because if you turn your back you're not going to be able to react to what the stray dog does," he said.

Jimenez said, if possible, get to a safe place and call Animal Control, 575-528-4100.

"Worst-case scenario is if the dog charges you, scream and yell. Maybe a neighbor will hear you and be able to come help you," he said.

Bethany Freudenthal can be reached at bfreudenthal@lcsun-news.com, 575-541-5449 or @bethanyfreuden1 on Twitter.