70-pound pit bull in quarantine after attack on beagle and its owner in City Heights

CALIFORNIA -- "He had her by the scruff and was just tugging at her and the woman was just holding onto her beagle screaming for someone to help," said Craig Moreno, who rushed across the street to help.

Moreno had just come home when he saw what looked like someone hugging a dog near the intersection of 40th and Myrtle in City Heights. It turned out to be a woman, who was trying to pull her beagle named Apple, out of the jaws of a 70-pound pit bull.

Moreno said there were already a couple of other people trying to help the woman and her dog.

"I jumped on," he said. "I held onto the dog also. We eventually got to get some water onto the dog and the dog released, but at that time he actually bit the girl in the face, so we pulled a little harder, poured a little more water and he finally did release."

 

Moreno said the woman's face was covered in blood. The tip of her nose was ripped open.

Neighbors managed to get a collar and leash on the pit bull, which appeared to have recently given birth to puppies.

 

It is a dog that neighbors are familiar with. Several people told 10News the pit bull is often loose on the streets, but most said she is usually friendly around humans, but not other dogs.

Several people pointed out a house on 39th Street where they say the pit bull's owner lives. Dog food and a water bowl were found outside the gated front yard, but nobody was home.

An officer from the San Diego County Department of Animal Control also visited the house, leaving a notice for the person who lives there to contact her. Animal Control has been called to that house several times in the past four years after getting neighbor complaints.

The pit bull is now in quarantine. No decision has been made about its future or potential criminal charges against the dog's owner.

(10news - Dec 8, 2014)

Earlier:

• Water bottle used to stop vicious dog during attack in City Heights