A family in McKeesport, Pennsylvania is speaking out after two dogs killed their pet emu earlier this week, an incident that has reignited concerns about the animals’ history of attacking livestock.
Cellphone footage captured the two dogs chasing down the emu, a 160-pound bird named Barb, along Ravine Street on Tuesday. The bird’s owner, David Callos, described the attack as nothing short of a hunt.
Constance Alexander, whose parents own the two dogs involved, addressed the incident the following day. She maintained that the dogs, identified as Myra and JJ, do not pose a threat to people, though she acknowledged they have shown aggression toward poultry and other birds in the past. According to Alexander, the dogs had not gotten loose on their own; she said a chain-link fence and basement door are normally used to keep them contained in the backyard.
This wasn’t an isolated case. Jerry Stroman, one of the emu’s owners, said the same dogs got into his sister’s yard last year and killed nine chickens in a single night, calling the scene a massacre. He said the family had since reinforced fencing around their birds, but the dogs have repeatedly jumped on and pushed through the barrier.
The McKeesport Police Department confirmed that officials, including animal control and a dog warden, are currently reviewing the case. As of now, the dogs remain in the home next door to the bird owners.
Stroman said he wants the dogs euthanized before another animal is harmed, describing them as a persistent danger to birds. Alexander responded that her family would comply if authorities determine the dogs must be put down, though she pushed back on the idea that they are inherently vicious, noting that her young children regularly interact safely with them.
The bird’s owners said five emus remain in the area and are now being relocated elsewhere for their safety. The animals are reportedly used for breeding purposes.
