Photo by Jim Epperson Bullard administration recently built this kennel behind city hall to house strays. The previous kennel was dangerous and dogs could bite through the fence, officials said. Police Chief Gary Don was not sure if the towering mastiff he choked with the noose of a catchpole would work on a dog of this size.

As he pulled the catchpole the dog stood taller than Don, towering several inches over him. The dog fought and eventually Don's pant legs tore, it was a brutal fight.

Eventually, the police department secured the mastiff and waited for the owner to come and get the dog.

"Every trash day that dog would tear through the garbage looking for a biscuit," Don said.

When a police officer would get the common call that the mastiff

was loss in Rolling Oak, they would go and try to tie the dog up, but they had nowhere to store the dog.

Back then the police department only had a portable cage that big dogs could easily escape by biting through the fence.

But now, after saving some money by working with probation office and a generous contractor, the city a kennel with four pens.

"It really helps separate aggressive dogs from one another," Sgt. Bryan Richards said.

Richards had just picked up a dog on Third Street, but this dog was no mastiff. It was a black Labrador and jumped right into Sgt. Richards patrol car.

"Since we don't have a dog catcher, we have to put them in the back of our car."