A man in Southern California died after he was fatally mauled by four dogs at about 6:50 a.m. on Tuesday, March 8. A news statement from the Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS) verified that the man was employed at the private property in Jurupa Valley. The victim has been identified as Mateo Salvador, 42.
At about 7:30 in the morning, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department showed up at the property after a 911 caller reported hearing screams. They found the victim seriously injured and he died shortly after he was taken to a hospital.
The RCDAS said the property owner was not home when the incident occurred but later surrendered the huge dogs, three Belgian Malinois and one Cane Corso, to animal services for humane euthanasia on Tuesday afternoon.
Even though the victim had previously often visited the property he was working on without incident, RCDAS Director Erin Gettis described the mauling as a tragic reminder for dog owners to keep their dogs, communities and people safe.
According to NBC Los Angeles, the property is walled in and has several signs alerting visitors to the presence of dogs, but that the workers frequently leave the gates open, allowing the dogs to escape. A woman who lives next door informed the media that she always keeps her gate closed because she has little children. She said that the dogs are dangerous and that they chase vehicles and students from the nearby high school.
Two other dogs were reportedly discovered on the property at the time of the incident. Authorities have said that none of the animals were registered or appeared to have a vaccination record. Officers are presently deciding whether the owner will face charges.
