Three XL bullies were euthanized after fatal abuse at Mira Mesa Park

The San Diego Humane Society euthanized three XL bat dogs that fatally attacked their owner and seriously injured a second person at a neighborhood park in Mira Mesa on Friday afternoon, humane society officials announced Sunday.

The fatal assault occurred around noon at a children’s playground at the Mesa Viking Neighborhood Park, located on Westonhill Drive about a mile north of Mira Mesa Boulevard. Authorities have not yet publicly identified the victim, who died after being taken to a hospital.

“During this incredibly difficult time, our hearts and deepest condolences go out to the victim’s family,” Humane Society spokeswoman Nina Thompson said in a statement.

According to Thompson, Humane Society police officers learned Saturday that a second person suffered serious bite injuries while trying to break up the attack and help the deceased. The person was taken to a hospital Saturday to be treated for their injuries.

FOX 5 San Diego reported that other people in the park may have used a shovel and a golf club to intervene before San Diego police arrived. An officer reportedly used a Taser on the dogs to break up the attack.

Shortly after the abuse, police officers and Humane Society law enforcement officers worked together to locate and seize two of the loose dogs, Thompson said in a statement. A third dog was secured in a vehicle.

The Humane Society seized all three animals and placed them under mandatory bite quarantine protocols while it launches an investigation, Thompson said. The Humane Society will conduct rabies testing as part of its standard protocol.

Thompson said as part of its investigation, the Humane Society received video about two hours before the fatal attack that showed the victim walking to the park with the three dogs. Humane Society records showed no history with the dogs.

The Humane Society euthanized the dogs Saturday after a second owner agreed to humane euthanasia, Thompson said. The second owner also told authorities that they were “XL bully breeds.”

According to the National Kennel Club, XL Bullies are not officially recognized as a separate breed, but are a larger version of the Standard American Bully. Such dogs are often referred to as pit bulls, although XL bullies are larger and more muscular than regular pit bulls.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were an average of 43 dog bite deaths per year in the United States between 2011 and 2021

According to news reports, there were at least 16 fatal dog attacks in the United States in 2024, with nine of them reportedly involving pit bull dogs.

The United Kingdom passed a law last year making it illegal to own an XL Bully without a special permit, citing statistics that the government said showed XL Bullies were “disproportionately involved in fatal dog attacks” as of 2021 “be. Even those who receive special permission must follow strict guidelines, such as: E.g. wearing a muzzle and keeping your dog on a leash in public.

Originally published: December 15, 2024 at 5:22 pm PST