Horse attacked by pit bull in San Mateo County

CALIFORNIA -- A pit bull attacked a horse in the coastal town of Montara on Monday night, a San Mateo County Sheriff's spokeswoman said.

The horse was in an open field behind the owner's residence in the 1400 block of Audubon Avenue when the dog attacked it at about 7:55 p.m., sheriff's spokeswoman Rebecca Rosenblatt said.

A witness tried unsuccessfully to pull the pit bull off the horse, Rosenblatt said.

The dog was finally dislodged when the bystander hit it in the head with a rake, she said.

The horse, which was bleeding from its neck and legs, survived the attack and was taken to Bayhill Equine in Belmont to be treated, Rosenblatt said.

The pit bull was taken into custody by the Peninsula Humane Society, which is continuing to investigate the incident.

It was not immediately clear if the dog's owner was present during the attack.

(Contra Costa Times - Aug 21, 2013)