LA Man Recovering From Pit Bull Mauling; 3 Dogs Killed In Attack

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A man was recovering Thursday from wounds he suffered when his small dog was fatally injured by three pit bulls that were shot by a police officer trying to stop the attack in the Skid Row section of downtown Los Angeles.

The man, in his 50s, is hospitalized with injuries that are not life- threatening, said Officer Sal Ramirez of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations office. His name was not released.

The owner of the pit bulls was cooperating with investigators and has not been arrested, but the investigation is continuing, Ramirez said.

The attack occurred about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 500 block of Stanford Avenue, Ramirez said.

An officer shot the three pit bulls, two of them fatally, Ramirez said. The third animal survived and was taken for medical treatment by Animal Control officers.

Cell phone video taken during the attack showed officers using batons in a vain attempt to stop the mauling.

An area business owner told reporters the pit bulls lived on the grounds of a neighboring business, were allowed to briefly run free each morning after being let out of their enclosures, and would typically obey the commands of a man who owns or tends to the dogs.

City News Service; Image: Youtube Screengrab