Overview
- The mauling, which occurred Tuesday, involved two pit‑bull type dogs chasing and fatally mauling a 3‑year‑old emu named Barb on Ravine Street in McKeesport.
- McKeesport police responded and put the badly injured emu down at the scene, and the family described severe throat and muscle injuries to the bird.
- The Stroman family says the dogs had previously killed chickens and that strengthened fencing failed to stop them from reaching the emus.
- Local authorities including the police, the county dog warden and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture have opened a joint investigation and the dogs remain at the neighboring property while officials assess next steps.
- The family is moving their remaining emus to a safer location and has launched a GoFundMe to pay for stronger fencing, relocation and possible legal fees as the community weighs safety and accountability.