We at Austin Pets Alive! are deeply disturbed and saddened by the news of the tragic death of Erin McCleskey. From what we understand, the six dogs involved were living as a pack, with little to no human interaction, and were used solely for the purposes of breeding. No human even resided at the residence. Forcing six sexually intact adult dogs to live in isolation, deprived of proper socialization, training, and enrichment is a recipe for aggression and disaster. This is how you create dangerous dogs.
There is a clear distinction between the dogs involved in this tragedy and the dogs that are available for adoption at Austin Pets Alive! and our local Austin rescue partners. Our rescue dogs are all being compassionately cared for, enriched, and trained, and are seen as valuable family pets and members of our community. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim.