Residents of the Wissinoming and Tacony neighborhoods in Philadelphia are on edge after a disturbing video surfaced showing a pack of dogs mauling a cat. The incident, which took place on Monday night near the intersection of Carver and Ditman streets, has raised alarm about public safety in the area.
The footage, captured by local resident Tara Gnoza, shows the dogs chasing the cat onto a porch before viciously attacking and killing it. Gnoza, who shared the video with Action News, described the scene as harrowing, stating that the dogs “ripped this poor animal to shreds.” She added that the dogs continued to roam near her home throughout the evening, further heightening her concerns.
“I hope the police or somebody does something. There are kids out playing,” Gnoza said, expressing her fear for the safety of children in the neighborhood. She reached out to her neighbors to warn them about the roaming dogs, and several reported similar sightings of the pack.
Local resident Dawn Hallman voiced her frustration, saying, “It’s absolutely ridiculous that people have animals and don’t take care of them.”
Gnoza said she contacted the police after the attack, but no response was received. Action News reached out to Animal Care and Control (ACCT) for a statement, and officials confirmed that officers were dispatched to search for the pack.
“The top concern here is public safety,” said Sarah Barnett, Executive Director of ACCT Philly. “Now they’ve killed another animal, and you don’t want that to escalate to children, adults, or any human.” Barnett urged anyone with information about the dogs or their owners to come forward to help authorities apprehend the animals.
As residents anxiously await action, Gnoza hopes the dogs are caught before another incident occurs. “I felt helpless because I couldn’t go out and do anything. It just happened so fast,” she said.