Teen Girl Survives Dog Attack While Jogging
In a shocking incident, a 17-year-old girl was attacked by a pack of dogs while she was jogging, according to the California State Police.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office is looking into the brutal assault on Tracy Hurtado, which occurred in Newbury Springs, a small town in the Mojave Desert. Her mother, Maria Azpeitia, shared her experiences regarding the attack that took place on July 17th, as Hurtado was jogging to a nearby training center.
“She usually walks to the bus stop every morning, so I really thought she’d be fine. I never imagined anything like this would happen,” Azpeitia stated.
A neighbor, witnessing the incident, helped by alerting 911 after hearing Hurtado’s screams. Azpeitia noted the severity of her daughter’s injuries, stating that at first, she couldn’t recognize her. “She was so dirty and covered in dirt that I almost didn’t know who she was. The only reason I recognized her was because of her bra,” she recalled.
As Azpeitia approached her daughter, Hurtado asked, “Mama, am I still cute?” Her mother reassured her, replying, “Yeah, you’re beautiful.”
Stepfather Carlos Ramirez reported that due to the extensive wounds and bites, she required about 500 stitches. “It was heartbreaking. There were numerous dogs involved. Every part of her body was bitten except for her ankles,” he explained.
After receiving treatment at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital, Hurtado was released but still struggles to walk independently.
Residents have expressed fear regarding the many stray dogs wandering the desert. Christine Watson, a local resident, described a situation where “we were just walking, and suddenly, a bunch of dogs came flying out from somewhere, surrounding us.”
Police have since confiscated 16 dogs from a residence nearby, either from inside a yard or roaming freely. These dogs are currently being cared for by the Barstow Humane Society.
A GoFundMe page has been created to assist Hurtado with her medical bills, with organizers noting that she is experiencing nightmares and has trouble sleeping at night.
Newberry Springs is a small community with roughly 2,900 residents, located close to Barstow.
