Toddler, Mom Attacked By Dogs In East San Diego County Need Help

LA MESA, CA – A fundraiser is underway for a woman and her child who were attacked by two dogs last week in San Diego's East County.

Karina Gonzalez, 29, was walking on a sidewalk in La Mesa with her 2-year-old son in a stroller and 8-year-old daughter around 8:15 a.m. June 21 when two Rottweilers escaped from their backyard kennels, jumped over a fence and ran toward the family, La Mesa police Lt. Brian Stoney said.

The dogs immediately attacked the toddler, Stoney said. When the mother tried to pull the stroller and her son away from the dogs, one of them jumped on her, knocked her to the ground and began to bite her, while the other dog continued to attack her child, he said.

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Several residents saw the attack and helped the family, Stoney said. The dogs' owners pulled the Rottweilers away from Gonzalez and her son and returned them to the backyard.

Gonzalez was bitten on her arm, while her son was bitten on his arm, head and ear, according to police and the GoFundMe fundraising page. The boy had to have surgery. The girl was not injured in the attack.

Both dogs were seized by La Mesa Animal Control and taken to the El Cajon animal shelter to be quarantined.

As of Monday afternoon, $1,180 had been raised on GoFundMe to help cover the family's medical expenses. There is a $50,000 fundraising goal.

"Karina is a loving single mother of four children who was in the wrong place at the wrong time," according to the GoFundMe page. "We ask for your prayers for a fast recovery and monetary help to pay for medical expenses. Thank you for your support."

For more information or to donate, visit gofundme.com.

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Photo via GoFundMe