Senior Victim Suffered Wounds to Her Neck Area
Two dogs attacked a woman early Sunday in Riverside’s La Sierra area.
The 77-year-old victim suffered wounds to her neck and hip after the attack in a neighborhood just northwest of the La Sierra University campus. Just after 8 a.m., while on her morning walk, the dogs charged her. She was pinned against a fence near the intersection of College and Norwood avenues.
Riverside County Animal Services officers responded after receiving a call from the Riverside Police Department. Officer Kellsey Hoesman attempted to locate the loose dogs but was unable to find them. They had been described as two large dogs, one that was black and the other tan.
The victim was taken by ambulance to an area hospital. The victim’s injuries were severe, but she was expected to recover from the wounds. She was treated and released Sunday afternoon.
Officer John Hergenreder and Officer Mike Cox assisted Officer Hoesman in trying to find the two dogs. A tip led the officers to a property with a long driveway in the 11,000 block of Norwood Avenue. A black Cane Corso, loose within its fenced backyard, barked at the officers upon their arrival. A tan Cane Corso was also in the yard, located inside a kennel with six puppies.
An owner of the dogs came out to speak with the officers and told them that her dogs do not get loose. However, the officers observed – and photographed – what appeared to be fresh blood spots on the dog owner’s driveway. Later, the officers showed images of the dogs to the victim and she positively identified the dogs as the ones that attacked her.
Officers impounded a 1-year-old, male Cane Corso that was intact. A female Cane Corso, approximately 3 years old, was also impounded with her six, 4-week-old puppies so she could continue nursing. The dogs are being cared for at the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley. The dogs did not have current licenses on file with Riverside County Animal Services.
A public hearing will be scheduled to determine if the dogs meet the criteria as vicious animals and must be relinquished to Animal Services for humane euthanasia or released to the owner with mandated corrective measures. Such measures may require that the dogs are always kenneled at the property and the owner must use a muzzle when walking the dogs. Also, the owner would be required to get liability insurance.
