A tragic incident occurred in unincorporated Covina, California this week when a 5-year-old girl was fatally mauled by two family dogs in her backyard, authorities reported.
The attack happened around noon in the 2500 block of Palomino Drive, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Steven De Jong. The girl’s father told investigators that she was walking behind him when he suddenly realized the dogs were attacking her. He jumped on his daughter in an attempt to shield her but was unable to prevent the fatal injuries.
The girl sustained severe wounds to her head and torso and was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The attacking dogs were identified as a 10-year-old Rottweiler and a 6-year-old Rottweiler-Weimaraner mix.
All four dogs in the household have been taken into custody by L.A. County Animal Control for evaluation.
Lt. De Jong described the incident as “a very unfortunate, tragic accident,” and detectives are continuing to investigate.
According to California law, dog owners are held to a strict liability standard for injuries caused by their pets. A dog owner is legally responsible for any harm caused by their dog, regardless of whether the animal has shown prior signs of aggression or dangerous behavior. The law applies in most situations, such as dog bites, unless the injured person was trespassing, provoking the dog, or knowingly assuming the risk of interacting with the animal.
Other states with less stringent liability laws typically require evidence of the dog’s past dangerous behavior or negligence on the part of the owner, creating a higher burden of proof for the injured party.
