Shocking footage surfaced showing a woman being viciously attacked by a pit bull on the streets of San Francisco’s Tenderloin area.
Witnesses described the terrifying episode, which lasted around 10 to 15 minutes. Although bystanders attempted to help, the woman suffered severe injuries that posed a serious threat to her life.
One bystander mentioned, “Many people were trying to spray the dog with pepper spray, but it just kept lunging at her.”
The victim, who remains unidentified, was taken to the hospital after police managed to restrain the dog using a snare pole.
In disturbing video clips, the woman is shown lying on the ground unmoving, while a nearby witness shouts for the police to intervene and shoot the dog.
At one point, the pit bull was seen with blood covering its head.
Authorities reported that the dog stopped moving as they were attempting to capture it and was later declared dead on the spot. The local Animal Care and Control agency took over the remains.
The dog’s owner was reportedly not present at the time of the incident, according to police reports.
Ashley Powell, who was on her way to work, shared her observation with KPIX-TV, saying, “The dog was with its owner when it suddenly jumped and attacked her.” She recalled the horrific scene where the dog was “pulling her, biting her hands, chest, and face.”
Powell quickly called 911 and highlighted that several individuals tried to pull the dog away from the victim during the attack that took place on a Tuesday morning.
Another witness named James Richmond stated that the dog’s owner attempted to intervene, but then fled the area.
Richmond added that he often sees the owner walking around with the dog, suggesting that he may be homeless but noted that they usually sit down, making it hard to see if the dog was leashed.
In response to the rising concerns about off-leash dogs, District 2 Supervisor Stephen Sherrill has voiced his worries. He mentioned that after the city’s dog court halted operations last year, dangerous dog cases have become a pressing issue. The court resumed hearings on these cases this past June.
Anyone with information concerning this attack is encouraged to reach out to the police at 415-575-4444, KPIX reported.
