BREAKING NEWS: Man 80, is killed and three others are injured in dog attack in San Antonio

A man in his 80s died after he was savagely mauled by three dogs including several pitbulls in the west side of San Antonio on Friday afternoon. 

Firefighters arrived just after 1:45pm to what has been described as a ‘horrific’ scene where the man was being dragged by the vicious animals as emergency services go to the scene. 

The firefighters were forced to intervene using their pickaxes in order to get the dogs and release their grip.

Two other people including an elderly woman were also hurt during the attack with one bit on the hand.

‘As they rounded the corner they could see a man being dragged by a dog. He was completely bloodied before they got out of the truck,’ San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood said at the scene.

‘This is not something that is normal for us. We don’t normally have to defend patients from animals or ourselves. The firefighters in this instance were very heroic fighting off these pit bulls with pickaxes and pipes to try and get to the patients,’ Hood said.

‘Two people were mauled with a confirmed fatality who was treated and given blood on the scene, together with a female in critical condition. Another individual was bitten on the hand and also taken to the hospital.

‘It has been a horrific scene and horrific experience for everyone involved including firefighters which was essentially a rescue to save themselves,’ Hood said.

Firefighters were forced to use pickaxes and metal poles to fight off the savage animals

Firefighters can be seen holding their metal pickaxes to force the animals away 

San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood said it was not yet clear whether the owners of the dogs responsible for the attack will face any charges

Emergency services are seen at the location of a fatal dog attack in which an 80-year-old man died

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A San Antonio Fire Captain who arrived on scene was also bitten in the leg during the attack which occurred in the 2800 block of Depla Street, on the city’s west side.

Fire Chief Charles Hood said it was not yet clear whether the owners of the dogs responsible for the attack will face any charges, although it is more than likely they will.

Chief Hood said that the entire experience had likely ’emotionally scarred’ the firefighters involved. 

The  dogs involved were  American Staffordshire Terriers (file photo)

‘Nobody expects to go out and fight dogs in a situation like they did today,’ Hood said.  

Both women who were attacked have been taken to University Hospital for treatment. One of the women is currently in critical condition. 

Shannon Wade Sims, Director Animal Care Services at City of San Antoni, says the dogs were American Staffordshire dogs. ACS officers responded soon after receiving the call and managed to remove all of the animals from the property as well as question the owners.

Neighbors say they had reported bites occurring in the past with multiple calls to the city’s 311 complaint line. The dogs had been previously impounded for a ‘mild bite’ in 2021.

Other calls made by neighbors within the past two years were concerns about animal neglect and aggression. 

San Antonio Animal Care Services have taken all of the dogs involved and placed them in quarantine kennels, where they will remain until further notice. 

The face of a bloodied pit bull can be seen in this photo with a dead man’s body lying nearby

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One of the dogs that carried out the attack with a bloody face can be seen standing at the scene

Shannon Wade Sims, Director Animal Care Services at City of San Antonio, said all of the dogs involved have been placed in quarantine kennels where they will remain until further notice

Responders from the police, fire department and animal control were all on the scene