The Garrity family spent much of Christmas morning looking for their 2-year-old husky, Justice. The dog had gotten out before, but always managed to return to its fenced-in yard in Collings Lakes, they said.

But this time was different.

Hours passed without any sign of the dog, and finally Larry and Diane Garrity decided it was time to get their three children ready to go out for dinner.

The couple, who live on Jays Avenue, hoped Justice would be back in their yard by the time they got back.

By 10:30 p.m. they had learned from John Hill, who runs Tri-County Animal Control Services, that their dog was attacked and killed.

On Tuesday morning, Hill brought the mangled dog's remains to the Garritys so they could bury him.

According to the Garritys, witnesses said Justice stepped onto a fenced property at 513 Wildwood Ave. at about 9:30 a.m. Monday. The two pit bulls then attacked the dog.

Hill said the residents of the home are not at fault for the attack because the dog was loose and ventured onto their property.

“Someone has to do something about the laws,” Diane Garrity said. “If those dogs were on our property and attacked Justice, then they would have to be surrendered to animal control.”

Witnesses said the owner took the pit bulls inside after the attack, Hill said, adding that the husky was left to die, bleeding profusely, on the property. Hill arrived at about 10:40 a.m. and discovered the injured dog.

It is unclear who called authorities.

Hill said he did not speak with the owner, but put the dog, which was outside the fence, on a stretcher and drove it to Linwood Animal Hospital.

“The dog was screaming and screaming,” Hill said. “None of the injuries really looked life-threatening. They must have shaken him. I pulled over, and he looked at me and just went limp.”

Hill said the pit bulls' owner, Juan Mangual, will receive summonses for having unlicensed dogs. Mangual could not be reached for comment.

“It will be about $50 per dog. But that is not going to do much,” Hill said. “The people weren't in violation of anything other than their dogs attacking a dog on their property.”

Hill planned to return to the neighborhood Tuesday night to speak with some people who may have seen the attack.

BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP — All aboard the Santa Express for anyone who wants to hand-deliver a letter to Santa Claus this year.

The train, reminiscent of the locomotives of the late 1940s, runs every Saturday from now until the end of December from Richland Village in Buena Vista Township to the Tuckahoe train station.

It is one of many specialty trips Cape May Sea Shore Lines is offering to boost tourism for the fading towns the train passes along the way, Mayor Chuck Chiarello said.

This Saturday, most of the trips were booked solid on the vintage train that holds as many as 300 people, many of them children, parents and grandparents, he said.

“It's all about fun, family. It's about history, nostalgia, Christmas and much, much more,” said Tony Macrie, president of Cape May Sea Shore Lines.

Cape May Sea Shore Lines has built a collection of vintage train cars from 1926 to 1955, which run on the tracks from Richland to Tuckahoe and from Cape May Court House to Cape May.

Macrie said his company has collected several the cars that used to actually work in New Jersey.

“We didn't just want it to be another train excursion trip, it had to be something more,” he said.

And while the Santa Express is not a new idea, Cape May Sea Shore Lines brings a little bit of history to the experience.

The company is also in the process of securing funding for repair work on 10 miles of track between the two lines to make it one continuous line, Macrie said.

Chiarello said the popularity of the Santa Express shows the demand for this type of family entertainment. And it would be a great way for tourists to travel to Cape May without having to worry about cars, parking and gas prices, he said.

These vintage trains are not built like commuters trains to pack in as many people as possible — they're built for comfort, Chiarello said.

“The ride is so very smooth that it's like riding in a Cadillac,” he said.

He also said it's not just about the train, but about being able to see all the towns along the track. The train gives them a chance for revival, he said.

But Chiarello says the best part of the ride is Santa.

“He's done such a good job, it's like he's the real McCoy,” he said.

Tree lighting Friday

Buena Vista Township will hold its annual Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Municipal Building, 890 Harding Highway.

After the tree is lit, Santa will arrive with the Richland and East Vineland fire companies.

Photos with Santa are available for $3 and there will be music, refreshments and more. There will also be a fire truck parade. For more information call Joan at (856) 697-2100, ext. 8.

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