One man was fatally mauled by his three dogs while another was injured in an incident at a San Diego park, and the dogs have been euthanized, the San Diego Humane Society said.
The man sustained severe injuries after being attacked by his three XL bullies on Friday and later died at a hospital, Humane Society spokesperson Nina Thompson said in a statement. The victim has not been publicly identified.
“Our hearts and deepest sympathies go out to the victim’s loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” Thompson said.
The second victim sustained “serious bite injuries” while attempting to help the first victim and is currently in recovery, the Humane Society said in a statement.
The Society said its officers responded to a call from the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) just after noon on Dec. 13 requesting assistance with a dog attack at the Mesa Viking Neighborhood Park in the Mira Mesa neighborhood.
Humane Society and SDPD officers worked together to locate two dogs that ran off after the attack and impounded the third dog, which had been secured in a vehicle, the statement read.
All three dogs were taken into custody and placed under mandatory bite quarantine protocols.
The Humane Society told CNN it had obtained video footage that showed the victim walking the dogs to the park about two hours before the organization received the call for assistance from the SDPD.
A co-owner signed over all three dogs to the San Diego Humane Society and told them they were bought as “XL bully breeds.” The organization said the decision was made to euthanize all three of the dogs.
The Humane Society’s records showed no prior history of incidents involving the dogs.
Tests for rabies will be conducted as part of standard protocol.
“This remains an active and ongoing investigation,” Thompson told CNN. “We are fully committed to conducting a thorough and careful review of this incident in collaboration with our law enforcement partners.”
Bullies
In the United States, American pit bulls are subject to legal restrictions that vary depending on the state. XL bullies are considered a variant of the standard American bully, according to the National Kennel Club. XL bully dogs are generally taller than the standard bully, but share the same heavily muscled body type.
In a 2023 report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that an average of 43 people in the United States died from dog bites and attacks each year between 2011 and 2021.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.