Pit Bull Shot After Attacking Horse In Old Sacramento

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) -- Holiday shoppers and tourists watched in shock Tuesday afternoon when a pit bull suddenly attacked a horse-drawn carriage in Old Sacramento. When the chaos ended, the dog had been shot dead by police.

The pit bull was off its leash when carriage driver Jim Frenken saw it launch itself at the seven-year-old horse, Sonny. The horse fell to its knees under the attack and Frenken frantically tried to get his passengers, an adult and two small children, to safety.

When the former race horse began running for his life, the pit bull gave chase and tore into the gelding's face.

"It was hanging off the horse's face with its feet off the ground, shaking," said John Dixon, who was in town to celebrate his birthday. "The horse was bleeding pretty bad."

Dixon shoved the pit bull off the horse and pinned it under his foot until officers arrived, but the dog was still aggressively trying to lunge away.

"It would have got another horse or kid, would have gotten someone," he said. "It was getting pretty brutal. Another officer came and ended the dog."

The pit bull was shot and killed.

Horse owner Dianna Newborn said Sonny suffered wounds to his face and legs. The horse needed about eight stitches, but the lasting damage may be much harder to repair.

"I've never had a dog attack a horse before," Newborn said.

The man and children inside the carriage didn't come forward to police, but authorities believe they were not injured.

The owner of the pit bull has not been located.

Another horse and carriage was struck by a drunk driver last year in Sacramento. The horse fully recovered from its injuries, but some animal activists called for an end to horse-drawn carriages in Sacramento.