Pack of dogs on Malibu beach maul
puppy to death

    Los Angeles dog owners should be aware that some risk exists if they take their dog to the beach for a romp for a breath of fresh air. Namely, on Thanksgiving weekend, 2009, a tragic incident happened in which a pack of four loose dogs mauled to death a 35 pound dog on the beach near Pacific Cove in Malibu.

    The incident in question happened when four dogs, most of them over 100 pounds and either German shepherds or mastiff type breeds, escaped from the home of a local resident. The victim of the attack was a border collie mix being walked by its owner. A report of the incident indicated that the owner became concerned for her own safety when she saw the four dogs approaching, assumedly feeling that the dogs would attack her, and so she let go of her dog's leash. The loose dogs attacked her dog instead, and continued mauling the dog for about 10 minutes. Shortly after, the dog was pronounced dead at a local veterinary hospital.

    One should note that instances like this are rare, but nevertheless demonstrate the potential danger a pack of dogs present to other dogs, or for that matter people, when they are running loose in a pack and not under control. Note however, an incident like this could happen anywhere, and not necessarily in the idyllic setting of the beach. Throughout Los Angeles County there is a serious situation with stray dogs running loose in packs, and both Los Angeles city and County are well-aware of this, but have not taken any meaningful steps to abate the problem. In fact, in the last several years several people in Southern California have been mauled to death by packs of dogs, and recently in Georgia, in August 2009, a husband and wife were both killed by the same pack of stray dogs.