SPRINGFIELD -- People in a neighborhood just south and west of Springfield say a pit bull mix went on a rampage on Tuesday, killing one dog and mauling two other dogs. On Wednesday, Springfield-Greene County Health Department Animal Control officers removed the dog from its owner’s property at 2604 W. Village Lane.

Neighbors say the dog, besides attacking other dogs, tried to attack a child standing inside a glass door on her home. Greene County sheriff's deputies told the dog’s owner that they would get a court order to remove the dog if she didn’t voluntarily give it up.

Neighbors say this isn’t the first time the dog has terrorized their neighborhood, which is between Golden and Scenic avenues, just south of Walnut Lawn Street (Farm Road 164). They say this was its second deadly rampage.

“A neighbor called me at about 11:00 and said that my small dog had been attacked,” said Shelia Alvarado.

The pit bull killed Alvarado’s Chihuahua, Poco.

“We took him in, and he took us in like he'd been here forever,” she said.

Alvarado's Doberman, Yako, was also badly hurt. He's walking slowly, recovering from wounds all over his body.

Betty Spess was a witness to the attack.

“I heard Yako, and I looked out, and the pit bull was trying to rip Yako apart,” said Spess.

Another neighbor's dog was badly mauled, and that same neighbor lost another dog in August 2008 when the same pit bull attacked.

“We resolved the situation last year with a warning and assurance from the owner that this animal would be controlled, and this instance would not happen again,” said Greene County Sheriff’s Dept. Capt. Randy Gibson.

In fact, on Tuesday, one neighbor reported her 6-year-old child was threatened. Alvarado and several others also have small children.

“The dog, for some reason, tried to come through the glass screen door,” said Alvarado.

Gibson said his department is negotiating with the owner about whether the dog will be euthanized or will go live at a home in a rural area, if the owner can find a home like that. For now, it will be at Animal Control's shelter north of Springfield.

By removing the dog from the neighborhood, and hoping to negotiate for a better home for it, the sheriff's department has gone as far as county law will allow.

“By anybody's definition, this is a dangerous and aggressive dog, but it hasn't yet bitten a person. Now, we don't want to wait until the aftermath of a terrible mauling involving this dog,” said Gibson.

With the dog gone, neighbors hope they’ll be more at ease.

“We just need to make sure someone's child isn't next,” said Alvarado.

Spess would have had grandchildren in her backyard on Tuesday if not for a change of plans. Gibson said the pit bull’s owner will be cited for not having control of her pet, and property damage.