Three Siberian huskies were found to have killed alpacas on a livestock farm southeast of Bend and will be put down by the Humane Society of Central Oregon.

The Deschutes County Dog Control Board ruled Thursday that the three dogs should be put to death for killing two suri alpacas and injuring two others who had to be euthanized.

Testimony during the more than two-hour meeting brought tears from the alpaca farm owner and its caretakers, as well as the dogs’ owner.

Several members of the public also attended the meeting at the Deschutes Services Center building in Bend.

The dog board decided all three huskies, Tasha, Buddy and Wolfers, should be put down out of concern that the dogs might attack again and would not likely be candidates for adoption.

The board is made up of volunteers who determine penalties based on Oregon law for dogs who chase, wound or kill livestock.

The dogs’ owner, Norman Jensen, was issued a penalty of $1,000 by the board. Jensen can appeal the ruling once the board decision becomes official, according to state law.

The attack happened July 2 on Michelle Alexander’s alpaca farm on Arnold Market Road, a few miles south of the Bend city limits. Jensen’s property is about 2 miles away from the alpaca farm.

Suri alpacas are known for their long, hanging locks. Alexander said she primarily breeds alpacas at the farm, but also sells the fleece.

Alexander was out of town at the time of the attack, but caretakers, who live on the property, told the board that they woke in the early morning to find the dogs chasing around the herd of 28 alpacas. The gates separating the males and females were busted open.

“The entire herd is traumatized,” said Alexander, who has lived on the property and had the alpaca farm for about 11 years. “They jump at a hair.”

Sonora, an alpaca about to give birth, and Echo, an 11-month-old, died in the pasture, according to the caretakers. Two others were later euthanized by a veterinarian.

Alexander told the dog board that she purchased Sonora for $38,000 and had sold the alpaca’s offspring in the past for as much as $12,000. Echo took several years to breed and could have been listed for as much as $10,000, she said.

“It’s a devastating economic loss for me as well as a personal loss because I care for the animals a lot,” Alexander said. “They didn’t stand a chance with a pack of dogs. One animal they might be able to escape.”

Alexander said her veterinarian is still monitoring another pregnant alpaca injured in the attack.

The dogs range in age from 8 months to about 7 years. Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies testified Thursday that a neighbor of Jensen’s reported the dogs being loose June 22 and chasing another neighbor’s goats.

During the meeting, Jensen apologized for the incident and said that the dogs were scared by fireworks and gunfire the night before. Sheriff’s deputies found a hole that had been chewed through the kennel fence where the dogs could have escaped.

“I tried to keep them contained,” Jensen said. He also said that Wolfers, the 7-year-old dog, was “more aggressive” and likely led the other two.

— Reporter: 541-617-7820, tshorack@bendbulletin.com

Editor’s note: This article has been corrected. An earlier version of the story misidentified the amount Michelle Alexander paid for Sonora. She purchased the alpaca for $38,000.

The Bulletin regrets the error.