2 Palmdale Girls Attacked by Dog, Hospitalized

Two sisters, 9 and 10, were attacked by a mastiff Monday as they roller-bladed in Palmdale and were bitten repeatedly before a sheriff’s deputy shot and killed the dog.

The girls were in good condition at Antelope Valley Hospital Medical Center, said Inspector Henry Rodriguez of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The attack occurred about 3:20 p.m. in front of the girls’ home in the 1900 block of East Avenue R, said Deputy John Kiess of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The girls were in-line skating when the dog attacked one of them, biting her repeatedly, authorities said. Neighbors who came to the girl’s rescue were eventually successful in pulling the dog off her, but the animal then attacked her sister.

Deputies responding to a 911 call arrived shortly thereafter. A deputy shot the dog with a shotgun as it continued gripping the second girl.

“When it comes down to protecting somebody’s life, something has to be done,” Kiess said.

The 9-year-old was bitten on the back, neck, scalp, cheeks and buttocks, Rodriguez said. The older girl was bitten mostly on her legs.

Dog bites are not uncommon in that part of the county, Kiess said. But Monday’s incident--which appeared to be unprovoked--was worse than the usual attack, he said.

Authorities had yet to find the dog’s owner and it had not been determined if any action would be taken against the owner, Kiess said.