Tuesday, September 27, 2011

'Vicious' dogs kill dog, injure Union City woman

CALIFORNIA -- The owners of two dogs may be cited and fined after the animals killed another dog and injured a 19-year-old woman in the Decoto district Monday, police said.

About 11:20 a.m., animal control officers responded to a call reporting "vicious dogs" at the intersection of Tenth and H streets, Lt. Ben Horner said.

The Union City woman was walking her small terrier dog when a 3-year-old pit bull and a 4-month-old pit bull-rottweiler mix attacked them, Horner said.

The woman suffered minor injuries to her hand, but her terrier was killed, he said.

Two Union City public works employees, who were driving by, hit the pit bull with a shovel to force it to release the terrier from its jaws, and then tied it to their pickup truck, police said.

Union City and Fremont animal control officers discovered the younger dog hiding in a yard at its owner's home, on the 33800 block of 10th Street, Horner said.

The dogs' owners, who were cooperative with officers, may have violated the city's municipal code, which prohibits dogs from running unleashed in public, police said.

The attacking dogs are being quarantined at Tri-City Animal Shelter in Fremont while officers determine if they have received vaccinations, he said.

Authorities also will hold a "vicious dog hearing" to review the dogs' history, police said.

(Contra Costa Times - Sept 27, 2011)