A 51-year-old woman died and another person was injured after being attacked by a pack of dogs at Perris Hill Park in San Bernardino, California, on Thursday, July 31, around 5 p.m.
The San Bernardino Police Department responded to reports of a woman being attacked by dogs in the area of Pacific Street and Perris Hill Park Road. When officers arrived, they discovered two women with bite wounds lying approximately 30 yards apart from each other.
As one officer attempted to render aid to an injured woman, two dogs suddenly charged from nearby bushes toward the officer and victim. The officer fired his handgun, killing one of the dogs, which police identified as a pit bull. San Bernardino Police Sgt. Chris Gray noted, “It was a bit of a chaotic scene at first.”
The deceased victim was identified as Teodora Mendoza, 51, by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department coroner division. Mendoza suffered severe injuries to her face and was transported to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. The condition of the second woman remains unknown, and her identity has not been released.
Mendoza’s son, Alex Lozano, 21, told reporters that his mother had been homeless for more than a year and often stayed at Perris Hill Park with a male companion. He indicated that she typically split her time between San Bernardino and Banning, where he currently lives. Lozano revealed that he had not spoken to his mother for some time and learned of the attack when his grandfather from Texas called to inform him of the incident.
The attack occurred near a homeless encampment in the area. Police indicated that the dogs involved appeared to be strays. San Bernardino Animal Control officers responded to the scene and seized 14 dogs as part of the ongoing investigation. Officials have not determined how many of the animals were directly involved in the mauling or confirmed the ownership status of the dogs.
According to multiple reports, there was initial confusion about which victim had been attacked. Police later determined that the first woman found, who was initially believed to have been attacked, had not actually been bitten. The circumstances of her injuries remain unclear. The investigation revealed that Mendoza, the woman who died, was the primary victim of the dog mauling.
The incident highlights the growing concern over stray dog populations in areas with homeless encampments. Neighbors reported that many people living in the encampment keep dogs. The CBS Los Angeles report noted that the attack location was along a remote stretch of Perris Hill Road, across from Pacific High School’s football field.
Dog bite fatalities have been increasing across the United States in recent years. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cited in the reporting, deaths attributed to dog bites jumped from 35 in 2018 to 81 in 2021, then increased to 98 in 2022, and reached 96 in 2023.
The San Bernardino Police Department continues to investigate the incident with assistance from Animal Control officers. The surviving dog that was involved in the initial charge at the officer was among the 14 animals removed from the scene. Authorities have not announced what will happen to the seized dogs or whether any charges will be filed in connection with the incident.
Police have asked anyone with information about the incident to contact Sergeant Jose Loera at 909-384-5736. The investigation remains active as officials work to determine the exact circumstances that led to the fatal attack and whether the dogs were legally registered or had previous incidents involving aggressive behavior.
The incident occurred in an area known for its transient population, and police indicated that multiple dogs were present at the scene when they arrived. The remote location of the attack, combined with the presence of numerous stray animals, created what officials described as a complex and dangerous situation for first responders.
Animal Control officials continue to work with police to determine which specific dogs were involved in the fatal mauling of Mendoza. The investigation will likely examine the animals’ medical history, vaccination records if available, and any previous reports of aggressive behavior in the area.
