Pedro Ortega Obituary, Death; – Authorities publicly identified a man from Mira Mesa on Monday who was tragically killed by his own dogs in front of his young son last week at a local park.
Pedro Ortega, 26, was walking his three dogs at Mesa Viking Park on Westonhill Drive when the incident occurred around noon on Friday, as reported by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office. Bystanders attempted to intervene and stop the attack before police arrived, who ultimately used an electric stun gun to separate the dogs from Ortega.
Emergency medical personnel transported Ortega to a trauma center, where he was later pronounced dead. Additionally, another individual required hospitalization for serious bite injuries sustained while trying to assist Ortega, according to the San Diego Humane Society.
Two of the dogs, classified as XL bullies—a robust breed akin to pit bull terriers—were apprehended shortly after the incident, while the third dog evaded capture for a period. Authorities at the nearby Ericson Elementary School enacted a lockdown until the animal was located and secured.
With the consent of Ortega’s family, all three dogs were euthanized. In a statement, the Humane Society noted that there was “no previous history involving these dogs in (the agency’s) records.”
In January, following a series of attacks involving these breeds, officials in England and Wales instituted a ban on the ownership of XL bullies unless owners can provide proof of neutering, liability insurance, and agree to keep the dogs muzzled and leashed in public spaces.
Prior to 2021, the United Kingdom experienced approximately three fatal dog attacks annually; however, at least 23 such incidents have been reported since then, many involving bully breeds, according to BBC News.
