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BREAKING NEWS: Man, 80, dies, three others injured in ‘horrific’ pit bull attack in San Antonio: Firefighters forced to use metal spikes and poles to fight wild animals
- An old man in his 80s was killed and two other women were hospitalized after a severe assault by a dog on the west side of the city of San Antionio.
- San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood stated that all the victims were transported to University Hospital.
- The dog owners may face charges while the canines involved are in the custody of San Antonio Animal Care Services and will remain in kennels for now.
A man in his 80s died after being savagely bitten and then mauled by three dogs, including several pit bulls, on San Antonio’s west side Friday afternoon.
Firefighters arrived just after 1:45 p.m. to what has been described as a “horrific” scene in which ferocious animals dragged a man away just as emergency services were rushing to the scene.
The firefighters were forced to intervene with their picks to get the dogs loose.
Two other people, including an elderly woman, were also injured during the attack and one of them was bitten on the hand.
When they turned the corner, they could see a man dragged by a dog. He was completely bloody before they got out of the truck,” San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood said at the scene.
‘This is not normal for us. Normally we don’t have to defend patients from animals or ourselves. The firefighters in this case were very heroic fighting these pit bulls with spikes and pipes to try to get to the patients,” Hood said.
‘Two people were mutilated with one confirmed death who was treated and given blood at the scene, along with a woman in critical condition. Another individual was bitten on the hand who was also taken to the hospital.
“It’s been a horrible scene and a horrible experience for everyone involved, including the firefighters, which was essentially a rescue to save themselves,” Hood said.
San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood said it was not yet clear whether the owners of the dogs responsible for the attack will face any charges.
Emergency services are seen at the scene of a fatal dog attack in which an 80-year-old man died.
A San Antonio Fire Captain who arrived on the scene was also bitten in the leg during the attack that occurred in the 2800 block of Depla Street on the city’s west side.
Fire Chief Charles Hood said it was not yet clear if the owners of the dogs responsible for the attack will face any charges, though they more than likely will.
Chief Hood said the entire experience had likely “scarred emotionally” the firefighters involved.
The dogs involved were American Staffordshire Terriers (file photo)
“No one expects to go out and fight dogs in a situation like today,” Hood said.
The two women who were attacked were taken to the University Hospital for treatment. One of the women is currently in critical condition.
Shannon Wade Sims, Director of Animal Care Services for the City of San Antoni, says the dogs were American Staffordshire dogs. ACS officers responded shortly after receiving the call and were able to remove all animals from the property and question the owners.
Neighbors say they had reported bites in the past with multiple calls to the city’s 311 complaint line. The dogs had previously been seized for a “minor bite” in 2021.
Other calls made by neighbors in the past two years were concerns about animal neglect and aggression.
San Antonio Animal Care Services took all dogs involved and placed them in quarantine kennels, where they will remain until further notice.
Shannon Wade Sims, Director of Animal Care Services for the City of San Antonio, said all dogs involved have been placed in quarantine kennels where they will remain until further notice.
First responders from the police, fire department and animal control were on the scene.