A Park Police horse is under veterinary care after a Crissy Field dog attack left the steed injured, and the dog’s owner under arrest.
According to Golden Gate National Recreation Area spokesperson Howard Levitt, a US Park Police Officer and his horse were on a routine patrol at Crissy Field when an off-leash dog attacked the horse, “biting the stomach, and locking on a rear leg,” Levitt said.
“The horse fell and the US Park Police Officer was thrown to the ground,” Levitt said.
The Examiner and KCBS both describe the dog as a pit bull. The Appeal could not confirm that detail with the GGNRA at publication time.
According to Levitt, the dog’s owner “was on scene, but did not bring the dog under control.”
After the attack, the horse ran towards its stable, pursued by the dog all the while, Levitt says.
The dog “chased the horse around the stable and into the area to the south of the stable,” Levitt said.
A kick to the dog by the horse apparently threw the dog off-course, and it wandered toward the Lincoln Blvd. underpass of Presidio Parkway.
Soon after, the owner arrived, along with the Vicious and Dangerous Dog Unit of SF’s Animal Care and Control, who promptly took possession of the dog.
The owner was then arrested, taken to the US Park Police Presidio Headquarters, and booked on several charges, including failure to maintain control of a dog and assault on a police officer.
The officer, who Levitt told the Ex was “badly bruised and shaken,” was treated at the scene by SFFD Emergency Medical personnel but was not hospitalized. The horse is currently being treated for its injuries.
Levett told KCBS the that horse “should recover but he was pretty chewed up.”
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