Woman killed near California park after being torn apart by pack of stray dogs, pit bull shot by cops
A woman was fatally mauled by a pack of stray dogs near Perris Hill Park in San Bernardino, California, authorities confirmed.
Teodora Mendoza, 51, suffered severe facial injuries during the attack, which involved more than a dozen dogs on Thursday. She was taken to a hospital but later died from her injuries, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Another woman was also injured in the attack, which occurred around 5 p.m. Police responding to the scene found the two victims about 30 yards apart. While officers rendered aid, one of the dogs—a pit bull—charged at them. An officer shot and killed the animal.
“While the officer was helping the woman, two dogs emerged from the brush. He fired two shots to protect himself and the woman,” police spokesperson Araceli Mata told CBS News.
“It was a chaotic scene at first because there were multiple dogs out there,” added Sgt. Chris Gray of the San Bernardino Police Department. Crime scene tape and scattered clothing marked the area where the fatal attack occurred, according to CBS News footage.
Local residents said many homeless individuals in the area keep unleashed dogs for protection. Mendoza’s son, 21-year-old Alex Lozano, said his mother had been homeless for over a year and often stayed in an encampment in the park. She split her time between San Bernardino and Banning, where Lozano now lives.
“I found out from my grandpa in Texas. He said my mom was attacked by pit bulls,” Lozano told the LA Times.
Animal control officers removed 14 dogs from the park following the attack, Mata said.
California leads the nation in dog bite-related insurance claims, with 2,104 in 2023, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The state also has the highest average cost per claim at $78,818.
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