“This was a really horrific attack,” Riverside County Animal Services spokesman John Welsh said. “This woman was almost left for dead.”
The two medium-sized dogs, one male and one female, were impounded by animal control and euthanized. Their owner was cited for licensing violations and allowing his dogs to get loose, but isn’t expected to face criminal charges, Welsh said.
“I've always tried to speak up for pit bills not doing this kind of stuff. My dogs grew up playing with my kids,” said owner Juan Ortiz, 34. “But they did what they did. I value human life more than my dogs' life so I'm not going to justify what they did.”
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| The owner of two pit bulls, Juan Ortiz, speaks with animal control and sheriff's investigators after his dogs attacked an elderly woman Thursday morning in Jurupa Valley. |
The woman, whose name wasn’t released, was taken to the hospital with severe injuries, Welsh said. An update on her condition was not available late Thursday.
The woman had left her home on 54th Street just before 11 a.m. to get her mail at the corner of Beach Street, Welsh said.
The two dogs escaped a gated yard across the street and attacked her as she fell to the ground, Welsh said in a phone interview. A neighbor rushed to the woman and scared the dogs off.
Animal control, sheriff's deputies and paramedics arrived and treated the woman before the ambulance took her to the hospital.
Ortiz said he wasn't home at the time of the attack, and learned what happened from authorities when he returned.
Ortiz said the dogs must have gotten out despite the fact that his gate was closed and his yard was secure.
"They're house dogs," he said.
The dogs were unlicensed and not vaccinated, Welsh said. That counters a claim from Ortiz that both dogs were vaccinated. Both dogs were tested for rabies after they were signed over the the county, Welsh said.
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| Animal control officials investigate a home in Jurupa Valley where an elderly woman was attacked by two pit bulls |
Although sheriff's deputies questioned Ortiz and Animal Control was sending over copies of its report, Welsh said he did not anticipate criminal charges to be filed because there was no intent for the dogs to attack the woman.
“This was somebody's grandmother and mother. She was just checking the mail,” Welsh said. “This is one reason why large dogs need to have secure fencing — to prevent these types of attacks.”
(pe.com - January 17, 2013)
