STOCKTON, Calif — After a woman was hospitalized from an attack by multiple dogs in Stockton, people in the neighborhood say the number of stray dogs in the area has gotten out of control.
The Stockton Police Department said the dog attack was reported around 10 a.m. in the area of South San Joaquin Street and East Hazelton Avenue.
According to police, the victim, a 54-year-old woman, was taken to the hospital with moderate but non-life-threatening injuries.
Speaking to ABC10 from his corner store, manager Najeeb Saleh said he sees between 12 and 15 loose dogs in the area every day.
He didn't see the attack on the woman Sunday, but he saw the aftermath, and it comes just months after one of his employees was bitten on the upper thigh.
"It was very bad. When I took him to the hospital, he was there for like four hours or five hours," Saleh said.
A unhoused man with three dogs told ABC10 that they offer companionship and protection for life on the street, but acknowledged that the dogs could be dangerous.
"People tell me when I’m sleeping, they’re off somewhere. So I need to start tying my dogs at night," the man said.
Saleh said it's up to the city and county to get the situation under control.
"Sometimes people are scared to walk at night, just scared of dogs," he said.
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