LEXINGTON, Ga. -- The dogs that authorities say killed a University of Georgia librarian and her elderly husband Friday night were euthanized Tuesday at the Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter by court order.
The feral dogs mauled Sherry L. Allen Schweder, 65, a bibliographer with UGA libraries, while she walked down a dirt road Friday evening near her home on Georgia Highway 77 a couple of miles northeast of Lexington, Oglethorpe County Coroner James Mathews said Tuesday.
The same pack of dogs overpowered and killed her husband, former UGA German professor Lothar Karl Schweder, 77, after he found his wife's body on the rural lane later that evening, Mathews said.
Authorities plan to consult later this week to decide whether to bring charges against the man who cared for the dogs.
Neighbors and the coroner said the dogs, who stayed at an unoccupied house on the end of the dead-end lane, roamed the area but didn't seem aggressive.
"It's hard to say what triggered the attack because the dogs haven't been aggressive to anyone else," Mathews said. "No one knows exactly what happened.
"The ones who know can't tell us."
Sherry Schweder - known on campus as Sherry Allen - often would go for a walk on the lane, Howard Thaxton Road, neighbors said. A dog lover herself, she'd usually have her seven dogs with her, but she was alone Friday night when the dogs attacked, Mathews said.
When she failed to return home, Lothar Schweder came looking for her in the family car and found her lying on the side of the road, Mathews said. He got out of the car and the dogs attacked him - he tried fighting the dogs off and may have tried to call for help on his cell phone, but the dogs overpowered him, Mathews added.
Investigators found Sherry Schweder's bloody shirt underneath the car, which was about six to eight feet from her body, Mathews said.
Lothar Schweder's body was found on the other side of the dirt road, about 16 to 18 feet from his wife's body.
"There were a lot of defensive wound injuries on both bodies," said Mathews. "On Mrs. Schweder's arm, there were wounds as if she stuck it out to hold the dogs off."
Jehovah's Witnesses in the area found their bodies Saturday morning.
Investigators plan to meet later this week with District Attorney Bob Lavender to discuss if the dogs' caregiver will be charged, said Jim Fullington, special agent in charge of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Athens office.
The owner had lived in the Thaxton Road home until recently, but returned every other day to feed the dogs.
"Nobody's been charged at this time," Fullington said. "We're still finishing the investigation, and the subject has been very cooperative.
"We've worked dog-attack cases in the past, but they've been more one-on-one situations," he said. "But we've never had anything like this in my career."
Oglethorpe County Superior Court Chief Judge John Bailey signed an order to euthanize all 16 dogs captured near the house and taken to the Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter near Danielsville. They were put down Tuesday afternoon.
The dogs were feral and unhealthy, said Susan Fornash, the shelter's director. While they did not seem threatening at first, they proved to be aggressive, Fornash said.
None of the dogs - 11 adults and five puppies - weighed over 35 pounds, she said.
"I hate it for the puppies, but there were concerns that they weren't healthy anyway," Fornash said. "It's just tragic all the way around. But if they had been properly taken care of, this would never have happened."
Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East, has charge of funeral arrangements.
ONLINE EXTRA:
Read copies of the warrants ordering police to capture and euthanize the dogs
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Charge his a##!!
A Sad situation.
I will seriously think four times before I feed a stray animal again. I am a sucker for any animal, a bleeding heart if you will, but after seeing what can happen...Never again.
A sad situation indeed, for the couple who loved animals to be killed in such a manner, AND where was the concern or compassion for these abandoned dogs, domesticated animals who had no means of survival other than scrounging for scraps, searching for a drop of water, betrayed by all human beings in your town (except for this man who fed them off and on). Why do human beings throw out innocent, helpless dogs to struggle to exist in a world in which only cruelty is extended to them? Why did they attack? News flash: They were starving, terrified of cruel humans (the only humans they encountered in their miserable lives here on earth). Shame on all the citizens who didn't lift a hand to help or rescue these defenseless dogs from misery...They formed a pack under the shadows of human's comfort and disgusting unconcern for these fellow beings of our planet. Now, all the concern??? Sure, kill them...what else could you expect from an uncaring, non-compassionate to animal community. Shame on you all.
Humans before animals people. I have two dogs but if they ever threaten me or my family it's beef lo mein for dinner.
These were not domesticated animals; they were feral. Feral are wild animals, wild dangerous ANIMALS: creatures, NOT BEINGS. Go back and read Genesis, Keley. While cruelty to animals and just dumping the inconvenient ones is truly evil, it doesn't rank anywhere near cruelty to other human beings, even unborn human beings. And although we are to care for animals and even allowed to love them, Jesus did not come to save animals, not even one of them. You need some perspective here.
How sad that Goshen77 thinks that compassion cannot be extended toward our nation's homeless animals, as well as to humans. Clearly, putting every human benefit before the most vulnerable members of our society, reaped these horrific consequences. What do you expect cast out domesticated animals to do in order to survive. Clearly, no one cared, and you make that attitude plain in your post. Turning ones back on a starving, suffering dog seems to be the norm. As I said, sad and a shame.
Fiat Lux, You said it - Your Jesus didn't come to save neglected, abandoned dogs. But did he come to save the likes of you. Looks like. Go read something besides Genesis and discover what a living breathing "being" is. Do you have to be told to care about animals? Your perspective is faulty, but you probably can't think for yourself. "Allowed to love them" - Good grief, no wonder the animals of our nation suffer with all you holy, religious human beings spouting crap.
Fiat reads Genesis but not Ecclesiastes (3:18-20) :-)
Animals are a part of society? Good god your insane. Do you hate your self so much that you think animals actually give a hoot about you. You have lost touch with your humanity. I have two dogs whose job is to guard the house. In return they are taken care of. If however, one of them kills a person who is not attacking me or my family they will be put down by me. Man is the law in this world get used to it.
Kelev, if you want your words to have impact (they dont) keep your comment to one or two sentences. I can only guess your pro-abortion.
Let me guess they will use the Dog rage defense. All of these beasts need to be shot.
Hey lets build a section 8 dog kennel in Goshen. After all human racism is to blame for putting these dogs in this position. We need to force humans with good homes to adopt these dogs.
It's not their fault afterall it's the racist human system that looks to put dogs down and denys them a comfortable home with a human servant.
This issue is NOT about race or religion. This is about the irresponsibility of the owner/caretaker. It is incumbent upon this caretaker that the animal in their care be properly housed, fed, watered, vetted and socialized. This is a case of animal collection/hoarding that happens, everyday in every state and probably every county. Until strong statewide (leave the feds out of this) ordinances are passed by our legislature and ENFORCED by the proper local enforcement agency this scenario will continue. Let it be understood that although this case of animal cruelty/abuse involves dogs it is just the tip of the iceberg. Everyday dogs, cats, horses, pet snakes, reptiles birds and a host of other species are abused in someway by humans. Unfortunately good innocent people such as these are the ones whom pay the price and rarely does the caretaker. I pray to GOD that he may help mankind to understand their responsibility as HIS caretaker of this good earth.
What does animal lovers have to say about these dogs being euthanized ? Calling all animal lovers, Or is it ok in this case. So who or when do you decide that it is ok to kill a dog?
These dogs clearly had a pack mentality, which is proof that they didn't have the proper human contact with their owner, I'm sure they felt abandoned as well. The owner that moved away and returned abt every other day to feed them should be charged, his neglect led straight to this attack by the pack of dogs. This shows that good dogs can make a 180 degree turn and switch into survivor mode. It's a crying this elderly couple who devoted their lives to teaching others were mauled to death by dogs, I don't care to hear that the dogs never threatened anyone before. They killed this couple and there is NO mistaking it, what a loss of great human life. Time for the dogs' owner to be held responsibility. Canines need to please humans, and if their human becomes absent they turn to other canines, thus the "pack" mentality and survivor mode. I have dogs, they in-&-out dogs, trained by us, and all they want to do is please us and get our love in return. There are right ways and wrong ways, damn to hell those that break the rules of common sense and force a dog to become part of a pack!
To: cajunnana2000
I am a long time animal lover/owner (dogs and cats). I have had to euthanize (via vet) several beloved pets because of age or infirm. It is a really hard thing to do. Having served on my local animal welfare board (advisory to animal control) I knew first hand the hardships of euthanization put on the AC officers. They are not hard hearted animal killers, they are family people that care for animals. It takes a special person to have to do a job that is created by irresponsible humans. Do NOT blame animal control for the problem, but look to your neighbor or maybe even look into the mirror. Step back look at the situation and volunteer in whatever way you can to be a part of the solution.
In this case sadly the only option is euthanization because of the feral condition of these poor dogs. NOT THEIR FAULT!!! The owner/caretaker should be prosecuted for involutary manslaughter, 2 counts. Let that person sit in jail and think about their not doing something with these dogs other than just feeding them. When they get out maybe they will dedicate the rest of their life to animal welfare.
Goshen77 -
Given the tone of your comments, it appears that you have numerous underlying emotional issues relating to your hate, disrepect and callous feelings toward innocent animals. Evidently, you are threatened by animal advocates who speak up for their right to live free of pain, terror and exploitation from the human society, for whom you brag about as superior. Superior in what....morals that don't extend to the treatment of animals? The thousands of animal cruelty incidents reported daily speak for the morals of your society. Animals don't want to be members of your society...only companions, considered a valuable gift to a great number of people.
Bottom line, your unconcern for the welfare of homeless companion animals, abandoned, pushed out on the streets and country side to fend for themselves, is a prime reason for unfortuante "packs of dogs" who attack humans when push comes to shove. If an animal is involved with violence with or against a human....theres always a human to blame. Check it out.
Kelev, there are plenty as arrogant as you and just as poorly educated. It's like Chesterton said, "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting, it has been tried and found difficult," mainly because people, such as yourself, want to believe reality is whatever you decide it is and won't tolerate having anyone say to you, "No, that's not right". It's much easier to invest oneself in animals than it is to form relationships with other human beings, which is why so many people choose animals over people today. But it is pure rationalization of that kind of choice that has people like yourself claim that animals have the same rights and purpose or value as even the least human being. As I said above, we have a responsibility not to be cruel and to take care of the animals we decide to own, often for longer than we may care to have it. But animals are not people and they have no claim on us beyond simple decency. As a pet owner from childhood, I know what that entails, but I don't have to be witlessly sentimental or anthropomorphic to enjoy my pets and take proper care of them. And we know: people shouldn't abandon their pets. It's cruel & creates dangerous packs. Satisfied?
And animals are not the most vulnerable members of our society, babies and unborn babies are. Animals are not even members of our society. They live with us and work for us, but they are not "us". They are "them". This is not a race or culture issue, it's about the different species. Do you get that part of it? They are not members of our species and they don't count as people, no matter what our moral and ethical obligations might be regarding their welfare. It is frightening that so many people don't seem to get this.
I agree, I am the owner of a short legged Jack Russell and a cat. I love my animals but not more than my grandchildren. I have nothing against animal lovers its that they put more attention on animals being mistreated than humans. Why are not marching and protesting when murders,child abuse, and spousal abuse is committed? They just don't get what I am saying. And like I have said before its not ALL animal abuse they protest against. They secect a chosen, few wich leads me to belive its not the crime but WHO commit the crime.
"Authorities plan to consult later this week to decide whether to bring charges against the man who cared for the dogs."
Really? Is there not a "lesh law" around there?
To cajunnana2000,
you obviously didn't read the article closely enough. It was the judge who made the decision to put them down because they were not healthy(35 pds) and had no real caretaker and they were now killer dogs.They could not be rehabilitated and no one would want them. I am surprised that the puppies were included.
There are others that didn't read the article well. The dogs did not have an owner,they were feral, the person who fed them was someone doing it out of the goodness of their heart. Remember there was 16 of them including puppies. Why should he be charged?
The real culprits here are the neighbors who didn't report the conditions these dogs were in. They roamed the area and lived in an abandoned house.
They became survivors as dogs will do and unfortunately they may have killed for food.
It is absolutely our obligation to try and help animals in this condition. That neighborhood failed those poor people. Let this be a lesson to us not to dessert our animal friends.
To Kelev: It is apparent that you are a loving person who cares deeply about our animal friends don't let the hardhearted above
discourage you and thank God for people like you.