EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — An 8-year-old girl was chased and attacked by a pack of stray dogs on Monday morning, Oct. 20 in Socorro, Socorro Police said.
The girl suffered a single bite, Socorro Police said.
Eleven dogs, tied to a single property, were captured and will euthanized, police said.
The incident happened at about 7:15 a.m. Monday along the 11600 block of Flor Freesia Drive.
A viral video of the incident, from FitFam, showed the girl being chased by dogs across the street.
When police arrived, they talked to the girl’s family members who told them that the girl was running to her bus stop when she was chased and attacked by stray dogs.
The child suffered a single bite and “bravely defended” herself until her father heard her cries for help and was able to intervene, chasing the dogs away, Socorro Police said.
She was taken for medical treatment by her family members.
The Socorro Police Department Animal Control Unit responded to assist with the capture of the dogs. Working jointly with SPD patrol officers and the El Paso County Animal Welfare Unit, 11 canines linked to a single property in the area were captured, Socorro Police said.
Officers determined that an individual residing on a nearby property had been feeding and providing water to the stray canines.
All captured canines were transferred to El Paso Animal Services, where they will be euthanized.
The Socorro chief of police has the authority to authorize euthanasia in cases where an animal presents an immediate threat to public safety, or when its condition or behavior poses a substantial risk that cannot reasonably be mitigated through alternative measures.
The canine that bit the child will undergo testing for rabies as a precautionary measure, though there is no current evidence to suggest rabies exposure.
Socorro Police Animal Control issued multiple citations to the dogs’ caretaker for violations including:
- Standards for animal care
- Animal not confined
- Animal not vaccinated
- Attack by a dangerous dog
- Aggressive/dangerous animal
Chief of Police Robert C. Rojas said: “This unfortunate incident serves as a serious reminder that feeding or sheltering stray animals — while well intentioned — can lead to dangerous situations for our community. As a department, we will continue to work toward long-term solutions to reduce loose canine populations in our City. I want to personally thank the County of El Paso Animal Welfare Unit for their assistance during today’s incident.”
Because the City of Socorro does not operate its own animal shelter, Socorro Police relies on the City of El Paso Animal Services for the housing of impounded animals from Socorro.
SPD prioritizes aggressive and sick canines for immediate impoundment; however, intake limits set by the City of El Paso sometimes restrict Socorro’s ability to impound.
At this time, two stray dogs remain at large in the area.
The Socorro Police Department urges residents to use caution around stray animals, as they can be unpredictable and potentially aggressive.
The public is strongly advised not to approach or attempt to handle stray animals.
Instead, residents should immediately contact SPD Animal Control to report sightings or concerns. The Socorro Police Department encourages residents to avoid feeding stray animals and to report aggressive canines.
Editor’s note: Video is courtesy of FitFam
Read: Read More