San Diego

Four pit bull terriers running loose in Clairemont on Thursday attacked three people before the dogs were captured, a police spokesman said.

Each of the victims was walking on Bergen Street, near Arvinels Avenue, when two of the dogs attacked them.

Lavonne Wahlin, who lives on Arvinels Avenue, and Joseph Sylvestre, who lives on Bergen Street, were both bitten on the leg. They were treated at Alvarado Hospital.

Derek Trusk, 15, also a Bergen Street resident, was treated at Sharp Memorial Hospital after a pit bull bit his leg.

The owner of the dogs, Rachel Vasquez, was cited for allowing the dogs to run loose, said Hector Cazares, spokesman for the San Diego County Department of Animal Control.

The department impounded all four dogs, Cazares said.

Vasquez also had been cited in January for allowing the pit bulls to run loose, Cazares said. Cazares said his office has not decided what to do with the dogs.

“It has to be investigated and decided if we will return the dogs,” Cazares said. “We may destroy the dogs if they are a public nuisance.”