A man, estimated to be in his 70s, met a tragic end after a vicious attack by four dogs in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates neighborhood on Hawaii’s Big Island, as reported by local police. The victim, whose identity is being withheld until family members are informed, received immediate medical care at the scene. Regrettably, he passed away while being rushed to Kona Community Hospital on Tuesday.
The horrific incident was brought to light by a bystander who witnessed the man being mauled by the dogs and quickly alerted the authorities. The bystander was able to drive the dogs away before making the call. Hawaii County Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz expressed deep regret over the incident, emphasizing that there was no evidence to suggest that the victim had incited the dogs, and the tragedy was preventable.
The owners of the dogs were not at home during the incident. However, they have since been contacted by the police. Investigations are underway to verify claims that the dogs had been previously reported as strays. The owners have willingly surrendered all four dogs involved in the attack, along with a litter of 10 puppies, to the county’s animal control.
The police are treating the case as a negligent failure to control a dangerous dog. Under county law, not taking reasonable precautions to prevent an unprovoked dog attack that leads to serious injury or death is a felony. If convicted, the dog owners could face harsh penalties, including a fine of up to $25,000, a prison sentence of up to 10 years, restitution, and the potential euthanasia of the dogs involved in the attack.
The cause of death will be determined through an autopsy, according to the police.