SerpApi.Org
Authorities said they shot a dog while it was attacking a man in Los Angeles County in an incident that left the animal dead and the victim transported to a local hospital. The man's latest condition wasn't immediately known by authorities on the morning of Tuesday, July 21.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said they received a report of a dog attacking a person at approximately 9:53 a.m. on Monday, July 20, and responded to the 43200 block of 20th Street West in Lancaster, a city located in Southern California's high desert region.
Authorities observed a man lying in the front yard of a residence while a pit bull was “actively and viciously attacking him,” the department said. The man “appeared unresponsive and was trapped inside a fenced yard with a locked gate, preventing immediate access,” according to the department.
Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.
A deputy entered the yard, and “after issuing verbal commands that were ineffective,” shot the dog, which stopped the attack, according to the department. The dog was pronounced dead on the scene, and the victim was transported to a local hospital and reported to be in stable condition.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department did not have any updates about the condition of the victim when reached by the USA TODAY Network on the morning of Tuesday, July 21.
According to a preliminary investigation, the dog belonged to a family member who lived with the victim, but what led to the attack remains under investigation, according to the department.
Animal Care and Control took custody of the dead dog, according to the department.
In February, a woman died from her injuries after intervening in a dog attack involving her 5-year-old son, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said
In July 2025, the San Bernardino Police Department said one of its officers fatally shot a dog after responding to an incident in which a woman later died from her injuries believed to have been caused by the dog mauling.
What happens if a dog bites someone in California?
In California, dog owners are liable for damages suffered by a person who was bitten by their dog in a public or private setting “regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.”
If their dog has bitten a person on at least two separate occasions, an owner could face legal action that results in a hearing where officials could make an order to prevent another incident, including the dog's removal from the area.
In the United States, 468 people died from being bitten or struck by a dog from 2011 to 2021, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics. The California Department of Public Health found that, based on data from 2005 to 2019, children younger than 10 visit the emergency department for injuries from dog bites more often than other age groups.
Californians are urged to report animal bites, particularly dog bites, to their local animal control agency, the CDPH said. If you’re bitten by a dog and the dog’s owner is present, get their name, contact information and request proof of rabies vaccination, the American Veterinary Medical Association said. Then, clean the bite wound with soap and water as soon as possible and consult with your doctor or go to the emergency room.
Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Authorities fatally shoot dog while it attacks a man in SoCal
