Azusa, CA – Two individuals found themselves hospitalized on Tuesday afternoon after a harrowing dog attack at a residence in the 5000 block of N. Orange Crest in Azusa.
The incident unfolded shortly before 11:30 a.m. when the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department received a distress call reporting a dog mauling. Authorities promptly responded to the scene, discovering that the dogs involved were household pets, as confirmed by the sheriff’s department.
Upon arrival, Animal Control personnel and deputies assessed the situation, finding one victim in serious condition due to the dog mauling. Another woman also sustained injuries, although they were not as severe. Both victims were swiftly transported to nearby hospitals for necessary medical attention, according to sheriff’s deputies. Fortunately, both are anticipated to recover.
Eyewitnesses in the neighborhood recounted the aftermath as paramedics attended to the victims. Nicholas Jenks described one victim’s condition, stating, “His shirt was ripped open … he had blood all over his shirt and his legs. His legs were covered.”
As the injured man was being evacuated by ambulance, a family member arrived at the scene, vociferously asserting that the man should never have acquired the dogs in the first place.
A neighboring resident provided additional context, noting that the dogs did not belong to the attacked man but rather to an individual renting a room at the residence. According to Biridianna Gutierrez, the dogs were not given individual names but were referred to by numbers. She also mentioned that the dogs had been the source of several noise complaints in recent weeks.
With a helicopter overhead, animal control workers were observed grappling with the four aggressive dogs before successfully loading them into trucks one by one. A fifth, older dog, deemed non-threatening, was left at the home.
In a statement, Los Angeles County Animal Control confirmed that all four dogs involved in the incident were Pit Bulls. The animals are now under the custody of Animal Control and will be held in quarantine unless the owner voluntarily surrenders them.
This unsettling event has prompted discussions within the community about responsible pet ownership and the importance of addressing potential issues with aggressive animals before they escalate. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.
