EL PASO, Texas -- As the Falcon family enjoyed a quiet afternoon at a south-central park near the El Paso Zoo, little did it know that danger was lurking.

Wednesday night, three dogs made their way into the nearby El Paso Zoo and killed two animals. The dogs are still on the loose.

“I hope they catch them,” Harvey Falcon said.

Zoo management said two pit bulls and a German shepherd dug underneath a fence and made their way into the zoo through a tiny opening. Once inside, they mauled an antelope and a sandhill crane.

"Our keepers are devastated,” said El Paso Zoo safety and security coordinator Nancy Juvrud. “They took care of those animals every day.”

And while zoo workers are upset, people in the neighborhood around the zoo are concerned.

"Well hopefully they do get ahold of those pit bulls,” said Corina Rocha, who lives near the zoo. “There are kids that are playing around outside, and it's dangerous for them." Rocha said she will keep a closer eye out on her four children who like to go outside.

“It brought us to a concern because you don't know if they have rabies or anything,” said Falcon.

Animal Services said part of the problem is that pet owners who no longer want their dogs set them free on El Paso’s streets. Last year, animal services caught more than 13,000 stray dogs, and so far this year the city has impounded 8,000 feral dogs.

The sandhill crane that was killed was named Dakota and had been with the zoo since 1994. He was known for following around zookeepers.

Hope is the antelope that was killed. She had been with the El Paso Zoo for almost 20 years.

Since the attack zoo managers said they will monitor the fence for breaches or weak spots once a week as opposed to every other week. Animal Services is providing a patrol and traps to catch the feral dogs.

El Paso Animal Services said anyone who encounters a feral cat or dog to call their offices at 842-1000 and press 0 to speak with an operator.