Unaltered Pitbulls 'Severely Attack' Man Near Lake Elsinore

A 53-year-old man is suffering from major injuries sustained when he was "severely attacked" by dogs near Lake Elsinore– one of them his own pet, officials report.

Riverside County Department of Animal Services Spokesman John Welsh says it's still unclear exactly how many dogs were involved in the attack, though the agency impounded six from the property on Honey Lane– just east of Interstate 15 and north of Central Avenue (Highway 74)– where the attack happened Tuesday afternoon.

Welsh says the Department of Animal Services was called to the scene in unincorporated Riverside County by the sheriff's department, around 4:15 p.m.

Details surrounding what prompted the attack are still being investigated, but animal control officials think the man may have been trying to break up a fight between two male dogs.   Though it's not yet certain how the fight started-- officers credit a good Samaritan with breaking it up.

"A good Samaritan – believed to be a nearby neighbor – rammed his van through the chain-link gate to try to help the victim," Welsh said.  "The dogs scurried when the man’s van busted through the gate."

The man was then taken to the hospital with major injuries, according to Welsh.

At least two of the dogs are pitbulls, one named "Bolt" and another "Goliath," who was signed over for humane euthanasia, according to Welsh.   Two puppies were also taken from the property, but their fate, along with the other dogs, is yet to be decided.

Welsh said none of the dogs were neutered, as required by local law.

"All four of the adult dogs were unaltered and unlicensed, as required by state and a countywide ordinance for unincorporated areas of Riverside County," he said.