The San Diego Humane Society euthanized three XL bully dogs who fatally attacked their owner and seriously injured a second person Friday afternoon at a Mira Mesa neighborhood park, Humane Society officials announced Sunday.
The deadly mauling happened around noon at a children’s playground area of Mesa Viking Neighborhood Park, which is 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.
“Our hearts and deepest sympathies go out to the victim’s loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” Humane Society spokesperson Nina Thompson said in a statement.
Humane Society law enforcement officers learned Saturday that a second person sustained serious bite injuries while trying to break up the attack and help the man who died, according to Thompson. That person was taken to a hospital Saturday to receive treatment for the injuries.
FOX 5 San Diego reported that other people at the park may have used a shovel and golf club to try to intervene before San Diego police officers arrived. An officer reportedly used a Taser on the dogs to break up the attack.
Shortly after the mauling, police officers and Humane Society law enforcement officers worked together to locate and impound two of the dogs that were loose, Thompson said in a statement. A third dog had been secured in a vehicle.
The Humane Society impounded all three animals and placed them under mandatory bite quarantine protocols while launching an investigation, Thompson said. The Humane Society will test for rabies as part of its standard protocol.
As part of its investigation, the Humane Society said it obtained video of the victim walking the three dogs to the park about two hours before the deadly attack, according to Thompson. The Humane Society’s records showed no previous history involving the dogs.
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The Humane Society euthanized the dogs Saturday after a second owner agreed to the humane euthanasia, Thompson said. The second owner also told authorities that they were “XL bully breeds.”
XL bullies are not officially recognized as their own breed, but are a larger version of the Standard American Bully, according to the National Kennel Club. Such dogs are often referred to as pit bulls, though XL bullies are larger and more muscular than standard pit bulls.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there was an average of 43 dog-bite deaths per year between 2011 and 2021 in the U.S.
News reports indicate there have been at least 16 fatal dog attacks across the U.S. in 2024, with nine of those reportedly involving pit bull-type dogs.
The United Kingdom implemented a law last year making it illegal to own an XL bully without a special permit, citing statistics the government said showed that XL bullies were “disproportionately involved” in fatal dog attacks since 2021. Even those who obtain the special permit must follow strict guidelines, such as keeping the dog muzzled and on a leash in public.
