A 1-year-old California boy was mauled to death by two dogs, police officials confirmed.
The boy, who was not named, was outside the front of a house in the 5900 block of East Kaviland Avenue on the morning of March 22.
Two Rottweilers attacked the boy and mauled him to death.
The boy’s grandma attempted to intervene and was bitten but the boy’s grandpa was ultimately able to stave off the dogs, which were found nearby, captured, and taken to the Central California SPCA.
#UPDATE: The owner of two Rottweilers who fatally mauled a one-year-old boy in #FresnoCA Friday gave up their rights of the dogs, and the dogs will be euthanized, according to the Central California SPCA.https://t.co/X17hKzwLst
— Pedro Quintana (@PedroQTV) March 22, 2019
Walter Salvari with the association told KGPE that the dog’s owner gave up their rights of the dogs and the animals were euthanized later on Friday.
The owner told officials that the dogs escaped from where they were being kept by digging their way out.
Investigators told KFSN that the dogs dug a hole under the fence where they were being kept, ran through a neighbor’s yard, crossed a street, then attacked the boy.
1st look at the dogs authorities say mauled a 1-year-old to death. They are being held by @CCSPCAFresno for now. pic.twitter.com/LdTrUPZmMK
— Dennis Valera (@dennisreports) March 22, 2019
Neighbors Respond
Following the attack, neighbors shared their thoughts.
Theresa Davis, who lives in a house in front of the house the dog owner lives, said her heart sunk when she saw the pictures of the dogs.
“I said, ‘oh my god, this is horrendous, these dogs have been in our neighborhood for eight or nine years,'” she told KFSN, noting that the dogs have a history of digging holes under the fence and escaping.
“Just primarily on the back fence, they’ve come out the side gate of their property, and recently discovered that hole a couple of days ago,” she added.
“Just thinking about the little boy, the baby losing its life… it’s a tragedy. Anybody with a heart would get teary at least,” addedArcelia Ruiz, another neighbor.
“I feel bad about that because if their owners would be responsible and always look at them, because I feel like animals are like children,” Eva Granados, another neighbor, told KGPE.
A legal analyst said that dog owners have a responsibility to keep their dogs from getting out.
“Had the dogs gotten out but the child not been out there unsupervised the child might not have been attacked and it doesn’t make the culpability of the dog owner as great,” said David Mugridge, the analyst.
Considering the attack was fatal, charges against the owner could go up to involuntary manslaughter and if convicted the owner could face prison time and a $10,000 fine. Police officials said no charges have been filed as of yet.
A one-year-old boy was mauled to death today by two rottweilers, Fresno Police say: https://t.co/EgCLaTQeTL
— WSBT (@WSBT) March 22, 2019
Dog Bites
DogsBite.org says that “each day, about 1,000 U.S. citizens require emergency care treatment for serious dog bite injuries. Annually, about 9,500 citizens are hospitalized due to dog bite injuries.”
In a 13-year analysis, the website says that of 433 fatal dog attacks in the United States, pit bulls contributed to 66 percent, or 284 deaths. Rottweilers, the second on the list, inflicted 10 percent of attacks that resulted in human death, the report says. German shepherds accounted for 4.6 percent of fatal attacks.
Mixed-breed dogs accounted for 3.9 percent and the American bulldog was next at 3.5 percent, the report said. The Mastiff and Bullmastiff accounted for 3.2 percent of deaths. Last on the list were huskies, which accounted for 3 percent of fatal attacks.
The report compiled fatal dog attacks between 2005 and 2017, showing that 48 percent of the victims were children aged 9 or younger.
