ESCAMBIA COUNTY - Two potentially dangerous dogs were stolen from the Escambia County Animal Shelter this week.

Investigators say the pit bulls were being held after biting a child.

Channel Three's Jake Peterson joins us to explain what happened.

The dogs were being held until a judge decided what to do with them.

But last Monday, someone came here in the early morning hours and cut open this fence, cut the bolt to their cage, and took them.

The theft happened the same morning their owner Maria Powell was due in court for a dangerous dog hearing.

County leaders say the judge would have decided the dogs' fate, but since they were stolen, the case was canceled.

They don't want to speculate, but whoever took them may have wanted to keep them from being put down.

"When that goes to court, the result of that, if we are awarded custody of the dogs, they will ultimately be put down."

That could have happened within ten days of the hearing.

Deputies searched the owner's home on Sandalwood Drive, but they didn't find the white and brown and blue pit bulls.

This is the second time the shelter was broken into this year, and the twelfth since it opened.

County leaders say they don't have the money to increase security here at the shelter.

Animal Control Officers are searching for those dogs.

Reporting in Escambia County, Jake Peterson, Channel Three News.Potentially Dangerous Dogs Stolen From Animal Shelter