Woman severely injured in south Modesto dog attack

A woman suffered traumatic injuries to one of her arms Monday afternoon when she was attacked by a pit bull in south Modesto.

The 63-year-old woman entered the dog owner’s property in the 100 block of Blankenburg Avenue uninvited, said Annette Patton, executive director of the Stanislaus Animal Services Agency.

The dog was behind a closed gate sitting on its front porch when the woman entered the property. Some neighbors reported seeing the woman waving her hands prior to the attack.

“He’s a big, lovable guy, so something transpired that spooked him, and that is a lot of dog,” said Animal Control Officer Connie Hooker.

The dog, named Fat Boy, is about 4 to 6 years old and weighs at least 80 pounds. Fat Boy wagged his tail as animal control officers petted him Monday evening at the shelter on Cornucopia Way.

To stop the attack, Fat Boy’s owner pulled the victim inside his home, Patton said.

The woman was taken by ambulance to a local hospital with major injuries to her arm.

Patton said the dog owner did not break any laws; the dog was secure on his property. But the owner voluntarily surrendered Fat Boy to the agency.

He will be quarantined for 10 days to ensure he does not have rabies, then likely euthanized, Patton said.

Despite his temperament with animal control officers, Patton said the agency cannot put up for adoption a dog that has bitten a person.

She said a rescue group could take him if one is willing to assume that liability.

This story was originally published August 3, 2015 at 7:02 PM with the headline "Woman severely injured in south Modesto dog attack."