Not first time pit bull had bitten family members

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 6/16/5 | Chuck Squatriglia

[SmithL]

Fearful neighbors would stay inside when dog got loose -

A pit bull that attacked and seriously injured its 66-year-old owner Tuesday had a history of aggression and was feared by neighbors, police said Wednesday.

Tommie Munoz remained hospitalized Wednesday with "extensive" injuries to her legs following the attack by King, her 9-year-old pit bull terrier, said Sgt. Art Sweeney, spokesman for the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety. The wounds were so severe, Sweeney said, that "there were several large chunks of her leg that (doctors) could not repair."

Munoz's condition at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital was not available.

The mauling came as Munoz argued with her 36-year-old son, Steven Alvarado, at her Circle Drive home, Sweeney said. As they argued, the dog -- which police said weighs 60 pounds -- attacked Alvarado, Sweeney said. The dog turned on Munoz when she tried to intervene, he said.

Munoz's other son, 41-year-old Joseph Alvarado, used a shovel to repel the dog and shepherd it into a bedroom as Munoz stumbled into the yard and collapsed, Sweeney said.

When police arrived at Munoz's home, Alvarado pleaded with them to kill the dog, Sweeney said. Officers refused, because Alvarado was not the dog's owner, and animal control officers attempted to sedate the dog with drugs hidden in food. When that failed, officers used a stun gun to incapacitate the dog, Sweeney said.

Animal control officers took the animal -- its mouth still soaked with blood -- to the animal shelter, where it will remain under a mandatory 10- day quarantine while the Sonoma County Animal Control Department continues its investigation.

Sweeney said it was too soon to know the dog's fate but said the animal had a history of aggression.

[SmithL]

Poor, misunderstood puppy-dog.

[truthkeeper]

When police arrived at Munoz's home, Alvarado pleaded with them to kill the dog, Sweeney said. Officers refused, because Alvarado was not the dog's owner, and animal control officers attempted to sedate the dog with drugs hidden in food.

Unbelievable. So what if he wasn't the dog's owner? He should have been snuffed on the spot!

[Zacs Mom]

Surely California has an "Anger Management" class for pit bulls ...

All kidding aside, at least this time, instead of some innocent neighborhood child, it was the owner who experienced the predictable reality of pit bull ownership.