A pit bull tore through a man's arm and abdomen in East Bakersfield Tuesday after he reportedly entered his brother's front yard when the brother wasn't home.
One neighbor snapped pictures as the attack unfolded while another used a cane to force the dogs off their victim, 35-year-old Steven Herrera.
It happened shortly after noon at a home near Robinson and East 18th Streets.
"It was a pretty gory sight to see," said Damon Hill who snapped pictures of the attack. "He was screaming for help and we were getting a stick and weapons to help him. A neighbor came in like a superhero with a cane and gave the dogs a whack and they let go."
The superhero was Andy Castaneda.
"I saw the pit bull and I hit him with the cane, my trusty cane," Castaneda explained. The dogs ''never attacked anybody before as far as I know. It's horrible, not a nice sight to see three pit bulls on one man."
The first picture Hill snapped shows Herrera in blue jeans and a yellow, plaid shirt with one dog biting his abdomen and another dog clamped onto his left forearm.
The second image shows the aftermath of the attack: a bloody, open wound on the Herrera's arm and his blood-soaked shirt.
Herrera was taken to Kern Medical Center for treatment. He was listed in fair condition Tuesday evening.
Herrera's brother, Salvador Romero, 38, lives in the home where the attack took place. Romero told animal control officer Tammy Davis he had told his brother to stay out of the yard after the dogs were aggressive when Herrera visited earlier in the day.
The male dog was not neutered and the two female pit bulls were pregnant, Davis said.
Romero declined to talk with 17 News photojournalist Reid Johnson.
Romero surrendered the dogs to Davis who confirmed the dogs would be quarantined for 10 days.
After 10 days, Romero could have his dogs back without a hearing but Romero indicated that was not his wish, Davis said.
"Quarantine fees run between $250 and $300 per dog," Davis explained. "He has a right to redeem the dogs at the shelter because he is the owner and the dogs weren't off property."
"It's something that wouldn't necessarily qualify for a hearing," she added.
If the dogs are not claimed following quarantine they will be euthanized.
"When you have three dogs together, it's different than just one," Davis said. "I think the male was the more aggressive one and the females just joined in."
