BEAUMONT, Texas — The Beaumont Police Department is still searching for the owner of the two dogs that mauled an elderly Beaumont man just steps from his home yesterday.
12News spoke to neighbors who told us that the dogs that killed 78-year-old Hector Pierna, Sr. were always "loose".
On Monday, December 16 around 11 a.m. police responded to the 1400 block of Orange Avenue after a welfare check for a man who was bleeding after being attacked by dogs.
Beaumont Animal Care (BAC) officials tell 12News the dogs are quarantined at their facility where they await rabies testing and euthanasia.
BAC says the city has leash laws which should keep loose dogs from causing issues, but these laws don't apply to all of Jefferson County.
"Any day if you walk around you'll see a loose dog. And a lot of them are aggressive," said Beaumont resident Andre Rawls.
Rawls has lived in The Avenues in Beaumont for three years. When he goes outside, he tries his best to avoid loose dogs.
"They do try to bite you," Rawls said.
Even when he's at home, he's still on edge.
"I've lost animals behind the loose dogs over here on Victoria Street. They came into our yard and killed our cats," said Rawls.
On Monday, December 16 Beaumont Police say a pair of loose pit bulls fatally mauled Pierna in the same neighborhood.
"In my 32 years here with the city, this is our first fatality in the city limits of Beaumont due to dogs," said Beaumont Animal Care Manager Matthew Fortenberry.
Fortenberry says unfortunately dog attacks are all too common. He suggests keeping a walking stick, mace or another weapon on-hand to protect yourself just in case.
"Do everything you can to not get on the ground. If they pull you to the ground and there's more than one that's usually when they're going to do the most damage," Fortenberry said,
He also suggests yelling loudly to scare dogs away, and emphasizes that dogs can be more aggressive when in a pack.
Rawls says he now keeps a BB gun handy.
"You can go and tell a homeowner and they'll fuss at you. If they see you chasing the dog and they don't understand you're trying to protect yourself," he said.
Beaumont Police say it's crucial that the owners of the pit bulls reach out to them or Beaumont Animal Care so that they can learn about the dogs' medical and behavioral history.
The dogs' owner may face a charge and fine.