PIT BULL DESTROYED AFTER KILLING PET.

Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer

Animal control officers destroyed a 50-pound pit bull after it attacked and killed a neighborhood dog while its owners watched helplessly, authorities said Wednesday.

The pit bull apparently escaped its gated yard about 7:20 a.m. Wednesday and followed a Pekingese mix though an open screen door and into a home in the 24600 block of Spruce Street.

``He tore after the dog and didn't want to let go,'' said Los Angeles County Animal Control Officer Jerry White. ``There were kids around and it's a good thing they didn't try and break it up.''

White said the pit bull's owner, whom he refused to identify, controlled the dog and turned it over to animal control officers, who ordered the dog destroyed.

``It is our feeling that once an animal like this starts to attack other animals or humans, they do not stop so there was no way we could release the animal back into the community,'' White said.

White said the owners of the Pekingese - a small dog with long, silky hair, protruding eyes, short legs and a pug nose - were home and saw the attack.

``They were there at the time it happened as well as some kids, but there was nothing they or anyone else could do about it,'' White said.

Officials said pit bulls have extremely strong jaws and that once they lock onto something it is virtually impossible to get them to release it.

``You have to be a dominant owner and maintain real good training on dogs like pits, Rottweilers and a Doberman pinscher,'' White said. ``You can't let them get away with anything. You cannot tolerate bad behavior at all.''

Animal control experts said the first sign of aggression from such dogs should result in strict and immediate discipline.