Related: Golden Gate Dog Attacks Have Runners Looking For Answers, But Few Exist
A decision on what to do with two dogs that were impounded after an attack in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park last week will not be made until at least this weekend, a San Francisco Animal Care and Control spokeswoman said today.
The dogs are undergoing an observation period that lasts until Sunday so animal care and control officials can determine if they have rabies, spokeswoman Deb Campbell said.
She said officials would then decide whether to euthanize one or both of the dogs.
A middle-aged man and 71-year-old woman suffered minor injuries in the attack, which occurred in the area of John F. Kennedy and Transverse drives, near Lloyd Lake, at about 6:40 a.m. Thursday, according to police. They were taken to a local hospital.
A third woman had her clothes torn in the attack but escaped injury.
The male pit bull and female mixed-breed shepherd were eventually captured and taken into the custody of animal care and control. Police shot at the pit bull, which suffered a bullet wound to its face but survived.
The female dog was not believed to have been involved in the attack and was likely just following the pit bull, police said.
The dogs became the property of animal care and control on Tuesday after a five-day period in which no one came forward to claim ownership of them.
Campbell said officials are holding the dogs for an additional five days to see if they suffer from rabies since their immunization history is unknown.
“If any animal has bitten someone, we’re legally obligated to hold them for rabies observation,” Campbell said.
She said it’s unlikely, though, that the animals are suffering from the disease.
“We haven’t had a case of rabies for about 70 years in San Francisco,” she said.
Once the additional five days are up on Sunday, animal care officials will decide what to do with the dogs, Campbell said.
Officer John Denny of the Police Department’s vicious and dangerous animals unit said he doubted the pit bull would be spared.
“Given its history, I don’t think it’s very likely,” he said.
