Skip navigation

California grandfather mauled to death by dogs

2 pit bulls euthanized after attack on 60-year-old man

Video: Life  
Summertime, and the work attire gets sleazy
  July 9: With workers worried about holding on to their jobs, why aren't more people dressing for success? NBC's Lisa Green looks at the do's and don'ts of dressing down during summer.

Text alerts on msnbc.com

Breaking news alerts (about 1 per day)
Click here to sign up or text NEWS to MSNBC (67622).

Find more alerts at alerts.msnbc.com

  Photo features  
  More
Image:
AP
  Week in Pictures
Prayers for rain, street battles in Honduras and Michael Jackson's last dance are among this week's memorable pictures from around the globe.
AP
PhotoBlog
View and discuss the pictures and issues that caught our eyes.
updated 1:03 a.m. ET Dec. 20, 2008

RUBIDOUX, California - A 60-year-old man was mauled to death by a pair of pit bulls Friday in the backyard of his rural Southern California home.

The man was taking a cigarette break when the male and female pit bulls attacked him, said Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

The man, who was the grandfather of the dogs' owner, died at the scene. His name was not released.

Story continues below ↓
advertisement | your ad here

County Animal Services spokesman John Welsh said the dogs were euthanized later in the afternoon. The male dog weighed 107 pounds and was about 3 years old, while the female weighed 52 pounds and was about 6 years old.

Welsh said it was unclear why the dogs suddenly attacked the man, who was familiar with them and had played with them before. But he noted that neither dog had been spayed.

"Unaltered dogs are always more aggressive," Welsh said. "We always recommend that for family pets, people spay or neuter their dogs."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sponsored LinksGet listed here
Online College Courses
Boost your career with an online Degree. Pick from Leading Colleges!
www.EarnMyDegree.com

Sponsored links

Resource guide