Dog Bites / Other Animal Attacks
July 24, 2010 - A 52-year-old man was jailed after at least three of his five pit bull dogs killed his two year-old step-grandson in the garage of his Concord home on Thursday. The man told reporters he was not "totally responsible for ((the boy's) death. However, I am responsible for negligence of those dogs, (not) getting rid of those dogs when I should have." He acknowledged that he had ignored warning signs including when one of his pit bulls, Kiwi, killed his chihuahua. "It was my responsibility to do the appropriate action when it happened," the man said. But he said he had decided to keep all five dogs "because I didn't have the heart to euthanize them."
The Concord man said he didn't know why or how his step-grandson had opened the door to the garage, which he said was usually locked with a dead bolt. "Both me and my wife do not understand how he ended up in the garage," he said. "This is the first time ever in the one year they stayed with us that (the boy) has ever gone inside the garage."
The pit bulls' owner said he had no idea why his dogs attacked the boy. "All I know is that sometimes dogs get spooked by little children, maybe the way they move or something," he said.
The man lives in the Concord home with his wife and two teenage sons. The two year-old and his four year-old brother moved in with them after their parents separated. The man was out with his older son when the attack occurred. He was later arrested for child endangerment and owning a mishchievous animal that causes great bodily injury or death. Both charges are felonies. Prosecutors will likely decide next week if they will file formal charges.
The Concord man said he believes Kiwi was primarily responsible for the boy's mauling. He said he wasn't sure if the two other dogs in the garage, Sadie and Jake, participated in the attack. The family's two other pit bulls, Max and C.J., were in the backyard at the time. All five dogs were destroyed. The man said he did not want them back.
If you have a personal injury or wrongful death claim arising from a dog bite or other animal attack you might want to contact an experienced Oakland / Alameda County Injury Attorney for advice.