Mexico rounds up ‘killer dog packs’ after fifth death

A 15-year-old girl found fatally bitten by dogs outside a Mexico City park in mid-December may have been the first victim of a feral pack suspected of killing at least four other people over the last month, say prosecutors. Authorities began capturing dogs in the park this week after a mother and her infant boy were found dead and covered in dog bites on 29 December and the bodies of a teenage couple were found covered in fatal bites from as many as 10 dogs a week later. The four were believed to have been the only victims until the mother of 15-year-old Ana Gabriela Nataret Ramirez told Milenio Television lateTuesday that their daughter had died in hospital after being found covered with apparent dog bites near the Cerro de la Estrella park in the poor southeastern Mexico City district of Iztapalapa on the night of 16 December. The city prosecutors office confirmed the details of the case Wednesday and said it was looking into whether her case was connected to the other deaths. An autopsy revealed that the victim had multiple injuries and puncture wounds on both arms, the prosecutors office said. After the events of recent days, the Mexico City district attorneys office broadened the investigation and confirmed the possibility of a new case of homicide resulting from wounds caused by dogs. Animal control officers swept the park for feral dogs again Wednesday after capturing 36 animals over the last two days. Borough president Jesus Valencia told reporters at the pound where the animals are being kept that 33 dogs were captured but his office said later that 36 dogs had been caught. In addition to rabies, the dogs have been tested for traces of human blood and DNA in order to determine if they were involved in the killings.