2 Pit Bulls Attack Riverside Woman Out Walking Her Dog

RIVERSIDE (CBSLA.com) — A Riverside woman was in serious condition after two pit bulls attacked her Monday.

The attack was reported around 10:50 a.m. while the victim was walking her dog along a sidewalk in the 4000 block of 6th Street in downtown Riverside, according to Riverside County Department of Animal Services.

The dogs reportedly leaped a fence and attacked her, leaving her with bite marks on the right side of her face and also had a gaping wound on her right arm.

A relative to the pit bull owner rushed from the property to pull the older and bigger dog off the victim, officials said.

It was unclear how the dogs got loose, but the bigger dog may have squeezed underneath the wood fence, according to officials.

Emergency responders assisted her and she was taken by ambulance to an area hospital. Her small dog survived the attack.

Animal Services officers responded and impounded the two dogs - both unaltered males - which were later signed over by the owner for humane euthanasia.

Officials said the adult dog did not have a license as required by state law and was not vaccinated for rabies. The dogs will be sent to a county lab for rabies testing.

"This poor woman was just walking down the street and attacked without provocation," Animal Services Director Robert Miller said. "Her injuries are very serious and our thoughts and prayers go out to her as she recovers from these wounds."

Miller said that all dog owners must always be cognizant about having proper walls or fences to keep their dogs within their properties.