EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A 51-year-old woman has been arrested after her two dogs “viciously” mauled a man, resulting in life-threatening injuries on Wednesday, Aug. 27, in San Elizario, according to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
Laura Mendez Gonzalez, 51, has been charged with attack by dog resulting in serious bodily injury and was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility with a $25,000 bond, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
On Tuesday, Aug. 26, deputies with the East Montana Patrol Station were dispatched to the area of Saltillo and Guitar by the El Paso County Animal Control, following a reported dog attack.
When deputies arrived, they found a 60-year-old man had been “viciously mauled” by two pit bulls. The man suffered life-threatening injuries to his neck and limbs and lost consciousness due to severe blood loss, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The man was transported to a local hospital and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for emergency treatment, EPCSO said.
According to the department, animal control officers at the scene were able to find and secure one of the attacking dogs. Detectives with EPCSO immediately opened an investigation, which led to the identification of the dog’s owner as Mendez Gonzalez.
Investigators learned that Mendez Gonzalez resided in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico and had been leaving the dogs unattended at a residence in San Elizario, returning only once a week to provide food and water, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
EPCSO said detectives believe the dogs escaped through a broken chain-link fence in search of food and water.
Detectives then obtained a search warrant to seize the second dog and an arrest warrant for Mendez Gonzalez.
On Aug. 27, detectives working with El Paso County Animal Control seized the second dog and coordinated the arrest of Mendez Gonzalez, where she was taken into custody, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding
the community and will continue to hold accountable those whose actions place others in
danger,” read the news release from the Sheriff’s Office.
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