Two injured after pit bulls run loose in Highland

CALIFORNIA -- Two people were injured early Tuesday when three dogs reportedly bit two people and caused some cautious moments at a local school before the pit bulls were seized.

A 58-year-old man was jogging near the school when he was attacked by the dogs, according to the man’s wife. He was bitten in the face, hands and arms, however he refused medical treatment and opted to drive himself to the hospital.

San Bernardino Animal Control officers seized the three dogs, one of which was muzzled.

Collen Cantwell, 50, of Highland, places one of her dogs into an Animal
Control vehicle. Three of Cantwell’s American Staffordshire terriers reportedly
attacked two people in Highland near Belvedere Elementary School.

The dogs’ owner, Colleen Cantwell, of Highland, said she believed her gate was left open by San Bernardino Police officers after they visited her home last night. She said the older dog and father of the two others, Skippy, had been muzzled because the dog would sometimes attack his own 8-month-old pup, Walter.

Cantwell said the dogs were American Staffordshire Terriers.

Initial reports indicate the dogs may have also bitten an older woman near Marshall Boulevard and Arden Avenue before 8 a.m., but it doesn’t appear the woman required immediate medical attention.

Police were not called out to help with the search, said Lt. Dario Robinson with the San Bernardino Police Department.

Initial reports were that Belvedere Elementary students were kept inside their classrooms Tuesday as San Bernardino Animal Control officers searched the area for the dogs. But district officials said later that the incident did not disrupt the normal school day. After contacting Animal Control, the school’s principal and other employees carefully monitored the arrival of students to the campus.

But there was no lockdown, according to district spokeswoman Linda Bardere.

No children were reported injured.

(San Bernardino Sun - Mar 31, 2015)