A California man was mauled to death by his own dogs on a San Diego playground Friday when the three beasts refused to let off their owner despite bystanders’ desperate efforts.
Calls started coming into San Diego police around noon Friday reporting a dog attack at the Mesa Viking Neighborhood Park, and when police arrived they found three “XL bullies” sinking their teeth into the defenseless man, according to KTLA.
The attack was so vicious one witness thought police were trying to apprehend a violent criminal.
“I just saw they had something trapped in the weeds over here. I thought it was a person at first because they were talking about setting up a perimeter,” said park neighbor Steve Marto.
“They were big, like XL bullies, just massive muscle,” he said.
As the dogs kept attacking, bystanders tried to help by whacking the canines with shovels and a golf club.
Eventually, the cops were forced to shoot the animals with tasers. Two of the dogs were subdued and caught, but a third escaped into the surrounding neighborhood.
That prompted the nearby Ericson Elementary School to go into lockdown until the animal was found back at its home and captured.
“The officer was able to break up the dogs. They fled, and the injured male was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries,” police said.
The man later died at the hospital from his injuries.
A child was at the playground with the victim but was not harmed in the attack.
It remains unclear what the dogs’ fate will be.
Marto expressed sympathy for the victim — but said having such strong dogs was inviting trouble.
“I don’t understand why someone would want to have three dogs that size. You’re just looking for a problem, in my opinion,” Marto said.
