Dogs that mauled boy near Vancouver will be euthanized

VANCOUVER, Wash. — Two dogs blamed in the death of an 8-year-old neighbor boy are scheduled to be destroyed.

Meanwhile, Clark County sheriff’s officials are wrapping up their investigation into whether the dogs’ owners should be held liable for the attack that killed John Streeter in Sifton, east of Vancouver, on Saturday.

One or both of the pets, female bull mastiff-German shepherd mixes named Diamond and Precious, attacked Streeter as he left the home of the owners, Lisa and Ed Miller, sheriff’s officers say. He had been playing indoors with the Millers’ children before venturing alone into the fenced yard where the dogs were loose.

Under Washington law, owners can be held liable for injuries caused by their dogs even if the dogs previously showed no sign of violence.

"We’re still really confused," said Lisa Miller, who was out of town with her husband when the attack occurred. "Nothing of it fits in with the personalities of these dogs we’ve had for three years.

"The dogs at 2 o’clock that day were out front playing with all the children. They were even playing tug of war with the dogs’ toy."

Ed Miller turned the dogs over to the Humane Society for Southwest Washington animal shelter on Monday. The dogs are scheduled to be euthanized on May 4, said Linda Moorhead, Clark County’s animal control manager.

Clark County sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Don Polen said Tuesday his office expected to decide by the end of the week whether to forward the case to the prosecutor’s office for possible charges.

The Millers and Streeters remain close friends, both families said.

"We are both supporting one another tenfold," Miller said. "Billie has been our best friend, and we’re closer than ever. We’re like family now."

Billie Jo Streeter thanked her family, friends and co-workers for their support, but she declined to discuss anything having to do with the dogs.

"We are close," she said about her neighbor. "It’s a tragic accident."

The boy was a second-grade student at Silver Star Elementary School.