District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis this afternoon announced the filing of charges against 40 year-old Jose Ledesma in connection with a Valley Center pit bull attack that resulted in the mauling of two young joggers.
The dogs belonged to a friend of Ledesma, but were under his care when they attacked a family on a nearby jogging trail. The two injured were able to fight off the dogs but suffered serious injuries as a result.
Ledesma is charged with two misdemeanor counts each of failing to protect the public from dogs and failing to restrain a dog. He faces up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Several high-profile pit bull attacks have made news in San Diego recently, including those involving an 8 month-old baby from Lemon Grove and an elderly San Diego woman, both of whom died from their injuries. Two women in the latter case have been charged with involuntary manslaughter and will stand trial next month.
“The danger is not in the breed, it is in the owner or caretaker who fails to ensure that the dog is safely confined, socialized and supervised,” said Dawn Danielson, the director of County Animal Services, in a release.
Pit bull bites are the most common reported to the County’s Department of Animal Services, with Labrador retrievers coming in second and Chihuahuas third. Together, though, these three breeds account for only about a third of the 2,921 bites reported between July 1, 2011 and June 30 of this year.
District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis this afternoon announced the filing of charges against 40 year-old Jose Ledesma in connection with a Valley Center pit bull attack that resulted in the mauling of two young joggers.
The dogs belonged to a friend of Ledesma, but were under his care when they attacked a family on a nearby jogging trail. The two injured were able to fight off the dogs but suffered serious injuries as a result.
Ledesma is charged with two misdemeanor counts each of failing to protect the public from dogs and failing to restrain a dog. He faces up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Several high-profile pit bull attacks have made news in San Diego recently, including those involving an 8 month-old baby from Lemon Grove and an elderly San Diego woman, both of whom died from their injuries. Two women in the latter case have been charged with involuntary manslaughter and will stand trial next month.
“The danger is not in the breed, it is in the owner or caretaker who fails to ensure that the dog is safely confined, socialized and supervised,” said Dawn Danielson, the director of County Animal Services, in a release.
Pit bull bites are the most common reported to the County’s Department of Animal Services, with Labrador retrievers coming in second and Chihuahuas third. Together, though, these three breeds account for only about a third of the 2,921 bites reported between July 1, 2011 and June 30 of this year.