Three Dogs Attacked and Killed Owner
Three dogs reportedly attacked their owner at a San Diego park on Friday, resulting in the tragic death of the man and injuries to another individual who had tried to help him.
NBC San Diego reports that San Diego police and paramedics were informed of the fatal attack around noon Friday at Mesa Viking Park in the Mira Mesa neighborhood.
A witness reported seeing the man being viciously mauled by the dogs. A brave bystander intervened to assist the victim but was also attacked in the process. Both victims were rushed to a local hospital, where the dog owner, identified as 26-year-old Pedro Luis Ortega, was confirmed dead.
San Diego Humane Society spokesperson Nina Thompson, along with police, confirmed the owner’s death. Thompson reportedly expressed deep condolences to the victim’s family and friends, saying, “Our hearts and deepest sympathies go out to the victim’s loved ones.”
Chuck Westerheide, spokesperson for the San Diego County Department of Medical Examiner said to NBC News that the manner and cause of Ortega’s death were still under investigation.
The second victim, whose identity has not been released, is said to be recovering from “serious bite injuries.”
“Upon arrival, our humane officers worked collaboratively to locate two of the dogs [that] were still loose, and impounded a third dog that had been contained in a car,” Thompson said. She continued noting that the San Diego Humane Society took all three dogs away and put them in their care for mandatory bite quarantine.
The Humane Society is collaborating with law enforcement to conduct a comprehensive review of the incident. They are committed to understanding the circumstances that led to this tragic event and taking appropriate measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
“We are fully committed to conducting a thorough and careful review of this incident in collaboration with our law enforcement partners,” Thompson said.
The Humane Society has confirmed that the three dogs involve in the attack were a mix of bully breeds, specifically an American bully variant known as an XL bully. The organization said that despite a thorough investigation, no prior complaints or reports of aggressive behavior were found involving these dogs.
Local resident Paul Ngo who witnessed the man with his dogs shortly before the attack described the man’s attempts to control the dogs, repeatedly urging them to “be gentle, be nice.”
“I saw a person running around with three dogs,” he told NBC San Diego. “I noticed that he was constantly repeating like, ‘Hey, be gentle, be nice.'”
Neighbor Stewart Marto expressed concern about the potential dangers of owning such powerful breeds.
“I don’t understand why someone would want to have three dogs that size. You’re just looking for a problem, in my opinion,” he said.
The second owner signed over all three dogs and agreed to have the SDHS humanely euthanize them. This decision was made in light of the ongoing investigation into the fatal attack. The Humane Society remains committed to a thorough review of the incident.
“As a result of the ongoing investigation, the decision was made to euthanize all three of the victim’s dogs,” Thompson said.
“This remains an active and ongoing investigation. We are committed to ensuring a thorough review of the incident,” Thompson added.
Recent years have witnessed a concerning rise in dog attacks, leaving many communities on edge. In October, a tragic incident occurred in Albany, where a 59-year-old man was fatally attacked by a pack of dogs, primarily pit bulls.
The rising trend of dog attacks, fueled by factors such as irresponsible breeding practices, inadequate training, and a surge in dog ownership has created a serious public safety concern about dog ownership and animal control.
