Mom, Child Mauled By Pit Bull Terriers: Vallejo Police

VALLEJO, CA — A mother and her young son were hospitalized with major injuries after they were attacked by their three Pit Bull terriers, Vallejo police said. The incident was reported at about 5:30 pm. on Friday, April 5 by a caller who said a woman and a child were being attacked by the dogs in the backyard of a home in the 500 block of Locust Drive, Vallejo police Lt. Kent Tribble said in a news release.

When officers arrived, the dogs were actively attacking a 47-year-old woman and her 3-year-old little boy, Tribble said.

"Officers immediately separated the dogs from the victims using pepper spray and physical force," Tribble said.

The woman and child both suffered major injuries and were treated on scene by personnel with the Vallejo Fire Department and Medic Ambulance before being rushed to local trauma centers for further treatment.

The dogs — all identified as Pit Bull terriers weighing between 40 and 50 pounds each — were seized by Solano County Animal Control, according to police.

"During the investigation officers learned that the three dogs had been under the victims' care and control at the time of the incident," Tribble said.

Vallejo police detectives responded and began an investigation into the incident.

The boy remained hospitalized as of Monday, April 15, but his mother has since been released from the hospital, Vallejo police told Patch.

The full-grown, possibly mixed-breed dogs — one male and two females — remained under rabies quarantine Monday, acting Solano County Animal Control Supervisor Dae Kim told Patch.

According to Kim, ownership of the dogs has been relinquished to the county. When the quarantine concludes, the dogs will be turned over to shelter personnel for evaluation, he said.