BUTTE, MT - You might have already heard of them. Or, maybe you haven't.

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But one way or another, someone you know living in Butte has probably already come across them.

That's right: Butte's got its very own wolfpack right here in Centerville (except it's more "domesticated duo" than "wild apex predators"). A pair of roaming black dogs have been  reportedly terrorizing hikers on the Mountain Con Mine trail, with one even taking a nibble at a poor pedestrian's pant leg.

For months, these unleashed canines have been staking out the territory between Mountain Con and Granite Mountain Memorial, scaring walkers into carrying bear spray—and perhaps, for some, something much worse—as a precaution.

Forget hydration packs; safety gear is now the new must-have accessory for Butte’s hiking enthusiasts.

The canine capers escalated on Sunday, when Butte resident Janie Payne and her family were out enjoying a lovely stroll—until they got a little too close to Butte's answer to "The Wolfpack of Centerville." Payne's cousin found herself surrounded by the dogs, growling, snapping, and pulling at her pant leg until an unnamed hero appeared.

Enough was enough, and Janie took action. She fired off an email to Butte-Silver Bow Chief Executive J.P. Gallagher demanding that something be done about these hooligans-on-four-legs. Luckily for us, Butte’s finest got right on it.

On Tuesday morning, an emergency canine council convened—and by that, we mean the chief executive, county attorney, sheriff, and animal services manager had a pow-wow. The verdict?

The dogs' owner got a citation and a court date. Gallagher admitted the current dog ordinance doesn't have enough bite to hold owners accountable (no pun intended), and it looks like they’re planning to give it some real torque soon.

In the meantime, animal control officers have been patrolling the area, ready to dish out more citations to any would-be irresponsible dog owners. And if you feel threatened? The experts say not to hesitate and call 911.

Hey, at least it's never boring in Butte!

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