Two Strays Near Perris Cause Her to be Hospitalized
FRIDAY, NOV. 8, 2019 – Two dogs attacked a woman as she walked in a neighborhood near Perris Thursday at about 4 p.m. The victim, whose age is unknown, suffered severe injuries and was taken to an area hospital.
Animal Services responded to the scene in the 21000 block of Corina Drive after receiving a call from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Officers John Hergenreder and Ramon Rodriguez captured and impounded two dogs, both pit bulls.
When the dogs attacked her, the woman had been walking and pushing her bike. She yelled for help and neighbors came to her aid. One man witnessed the two dogs attacking her while she was on the ground. One dog was going for her neck and the other was biting her shoulder, according to his statement to a sheriff’s deputy. One man hit the dogs with a shovel.
A sheriff’s deputy arrived shortly thereafter. The property where the dogs ran back toward led authorities to a grim discovery. A man, presumably the owner of the dogs, was deceased inside the home. No foul play is suspected and his death is being described as unattended. It’s uncertain how long the man had been dead.
Officer Hergenreder asked the deputy if the decedent appeared to have been bitten. The deputy said he did not believe that had occurred, but told the animal control officer that the man’s body was badly decomposed.
Apparently the property’s gate had been open, allowing the dogs to freely roam. Both dogs were microchipped and the man had licensed both of them. Those licenses, however, expired in June 2019.
Animal Services had received a call about two loose dogs on Corina Drive earlier this week. However, the man who reported the dogs loose did not provide an address and described the dogs as “friendly.” An officer was dispatched to Corina Drive on that same day, but could not locate the animals. Follow-up calls were made to the man for further information, but the calls were not returned.
Animal Services Commander Chris Mayer urged residents to be vigilant about reporting stray dogs, but asked people to try to provide as much detail as possible.
“We are always saddened when one of our residents are attacked in such a vicious manner,” Mayer said. “That’s why we appreciate tips about roaming dogs. A street is helpful. But an actual property address is critical information that can assist us further.”
