CAMARILLO : Intruder Springs Condemned Dog

Someone broke into the Ventura County Animal Shelter early Sunday and freed a “junkyard dog” scheduled to be put to sleep after biting five people in Camarillo, sheriff’s and animal regulation officials said Monday.

Deputies investigating the break-in said they are looking for the dog’s owner for questioning, but do not consider him a suspect at this point.

“We just want to talk to him about his dog,” said Sgt. Keith Lazz of the Ventura County sheriff’s station in Camarillo.

Cathy Jenks, director of Ventura’s Animal Regulation Department, said the shelter has been broken into several times in the past.

Jenks said someone cut a hole in a fence, then severed several padlocks to free the black, mastiff-pit bull mix named Moe.

The 60-pound dog has a history of attacking people, Jenks said, and was to be euthanized after its owner refused to pay fees and a fine associated with its impounding.

The dog was taken to the pound after biting at least five people as it ran loose along Daily Drive in Camarillo in late August, Jenks said. She said the dog would have been released to the owner had he agreed to have it vaccinated, keep it in an enclosed place and get it out of Ventura County.

In addition, officials had asked the owner to buy a $500,000 liability policy for the dog and pay the $450 cost for its two-month impoundment, Jenks said.