SAN ANTONIO – Five dogs involved in the mauling of a man and the attack on a San Antonio police officer on the city’s South Side early Tuesday belong to one household.
ACS spokeswoman Lisa Norwood did not reveal the names of the owners or their addresses, but said that the dogs are not strays. Norwood also said the owners could face numerous citations and charges.
The agency now has custody of the five dogs, including two that were shot dead after the attack.
San Antonio police said Officer Matthew Belver fired the shots that killed the animals after he found himself also being attacked.
Belver responded to a 911 call just before 12:30 a.m. about someone screaming in the area of Cantrell Drive and Burton Avenue. Police said when the officer arrived, he found Abel Arias, 39, on the ground being mauled by a pack of pit bulls.
Belver said the dogs immediately turned on him and began attacking, biting him on his arm, leg and face.
Police said he was able to grab his service weapon and fire at the dogs, hitting three. Officers at the scene initially said all three dogs had died, but police later revised the number to two.
They described Arias’ injuries as "life-threatening." Arias and Belver remained hospitalized as of 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Hours after the attack, bloodstains were still visible on the street, stretching as wide as a lane of traffic.