A dog bite incident in Riverside County resulted in injuries for a 12-year-old girl. The Press-Enterprise reports that the incident occurred the afternoon of January 29, 2012 near East Rider Street and Evans Road in Perris. Police say the girl was attacked by a pit bull. She was transported to an area hospital with dog bite injuries. But the nature and extent of her injuries is not known. The pit bull has been quarantined, but it is not know if the dog's owner will face any charges. An investigation is ongoing.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the injured victim of this dog attack. I pray that her injuries are not serious and that she recovers quickly and completely.

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A dog bite incident in Riverside County resulted in injuries for a mother and her 6-year-old son the morning of January 24, 2012. The Press-Enterprise reports that the dog attack occurred in a residential neighborhood near Indian Avenue and Sunnymead Boulevard in Moreno Valley. Officials say the woman was walking with her son and a younger child whom she was pushing in a stroller when they were attacked by a 120-pound bull mastiff. The dog bit a part of the boy's ear off and bit his mom in her hip. The dog's owner intervened and was able to take the dog back to his house. The younger child was unharmed. The two injured victims were transported to a local medical center for treatment and are expected to recover. Officials are investigating the incident.

My thoughts and prayers are with the injured victims of this dog attack. I wish them the very best for a quick and full recovery.

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A dog bite incident in Valley Center, San Diego, resulted in major injuries for 21-year-old Richard Garritson and severe injuries for his brother John Garritson, 20. The San Diego Union Tribune reports that Richard Garritson was out on his usual run, along with his brother, his sisters, Meagan, 18, and Shelby, 15, as well as his 9-yer-old niece, the evening of November 27, 2011. It was then a pack of five or six pit bulls attacked him.

Officials say Richard Garritson was severely bitten on his lower legs and upper body. The dogs tore off chunks of flesh from his lower leg. His brother, John, who came to his assistance was also bitten. No one else was injured. The dogs' owner who lives nearby was called to the scene and helped restrain the dogs. Garritson, who is a competitive runner, had to undergo surgery. Officials are investigating the case to determine whether the dog owner should be charged. Four of the dogs have been euthanized with the owner's consent.

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A 67-year-old man who was injured in a brutal dog bite incident in Glendora was identified by officials as former Compton fire chief Milford Fonza. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports that the dog attack occurred early morning on October 10, 2011 in the 1600 block of South Sunflower Avenue. Fonza told officials he was taking an early morning walk when he was attacked by two pit bulls that were loose on the street. He fought off the dogs for nearly four minutes when Glendora Police Officer Matt Fenner came to his rescue by striking one of the dogs with his car and shooting the other. Both the animals died. Fonza sustained puncture wounds all over his body and a broken shoulder. Police are still looking for the dogs' owner. An investigation is ongoing.

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Dog bites in California are an unfortunate thing. They happen all the time but not all of them are reported. In fact, about 4.7 million dog bites happen in the United States each year, and with California's massive population, we receive our fair share. It's a sad fact, but knowing what to do after a dog bite can mean the difference between peace of mind and suffering.

Unfortunately, most of the victims of dog bites are children and the majority of their injuries are to their face and neck. These injuries can be devastating and most require medical attention. Read full story »

Authorities in the San Francisco Bay Area have identified one of two dog bite victims injured the morning of September 10, 2010, as 52-year-old Janelle Dalson. The woman was jogging in the 600 block of Pavilion Drive in Hanfield when she was attacked by three dogs. Neighbors shot the dogs – a bull mastiff, pit bull mix and American bulldog – two times, once when they attacked Dalson and again when they attacked another female jogger. Both women sustained serious injuries, but are expected to survive. Read full story »

A toddler who sustained serious personal injuries in a dog attack at a Newhall apartment complex the evening of June 11, 2010, has been identified as 5-year-old Jose Sadino. ABC News reports that the vicious pit bull attack happened outside the apartment building where a number of children were playing. The dog, according to eyewitnesses, jumped out a window and started mauling the boy. Jose's mother and several neighbors intervened and were able to chase the dog away. But Jose has sustained critical injuries. Thankfully, he is expected to survive. Read full story »

Authorities say that 38-yea-old Wendy Soto, who was going door to door collecting information for the U.S. Census Bureau, will have to undergo surgery after a dog bite incident involving a pit bull. CBS News reports Soto was conducting census interviews the evening of May 17, 2010 and had just rung the doorbell of one of the homes, when the attack occurred. The dog attacked her and bit her on the leg, stomach and hands until the owner came and pulled it away. Soto was transported to an area hospital where she is about to undergo surgery. A hearing will be held to determine whether the dog should be classified as "vicious" or "dangerous." Read full story »

Two people sustained serious personal injuries after they were attacked on a Los Angeles street by three 100-pound bullmastiffs the morning of April 16, 2010. According to a Fox News report, the dogs attacked a woman on Slauson Avenue and in neighboring West 58th Place. Those who saw the horrific incident told police that they heard the woman's cries for help after she was surrounded and mauled by the three large dogs that were running loose in the neighborhood. A man driving by stopped to come to the woman's rescue. But he was also bitten by the dogs and injured. Both were taken to a local hospital. Police shot and killed one of the dogs and confiscated the other two. An investigation is ongoing. Read full story »

A 6-month-old baby sustained major injuries in a dog bite incident after he was mauled by pit bulls in an apartment. The Press-Enterprise reports that the child was left unattended in an infant carrier on the floor of the apartment on April 3, 2010 when a pit bull and a pit bull mix tore the baby's diaper and bit his scrotum, severing his testicles. The mother of the child, 22-year-old Carrie McKinney – was visiting her friend identified as Doug Ritchey, also the dogs' owner. The infant was taken to an area hospital. His current condition is not known. Read full story »