NDSU sheep-killing dogs' owner fined $1,000

FARGO, N.D. (AP) -- The owner of two dogs that attacked a herd of research sheep in a North Dakota State University barn has pleaded guilty in Fargo municipal court to having dogs at large.

Authorities say the two huskies escaped from the home of Doug and Crystal Petersen and somehow got into the NDSU barn. The dogs killed seven of the sheep and injured nearly a dozen more, five of which had to be euthanized.

Doug Petersen was fined $500 for each dog. He and his wife also are likely to face thousands of dollars in restitution.

The Petersens say they were working in their backyard on Tuesday when a neighbor's 4-year-old son let the dogs out of their house. Crystal Petersen tells The Forum that she's shocked by what the dogs did.