PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A man is in critical condition after five dogs mauled him in the fenced-in yard of a West Philadelphia home. Police shot two of the dogs, killing one of them.
Police say, despite “Beware of the Dog” signs posted at the property near 62nd and Arch streets, the man opened the gate and stepped into the yard, where five pit bulls attacked him.
When police arrived, the man was unconscious. Responding officers attempted to pull the dogs off of the man and, in the process, shot two of them. One dog died. The other was shot in the face and is in the care of ACCT Philly’s animal control team.
None of the officers was injured.
Police believe the man, who is in his 60s, may have been disoriented when he entered the property. They are not identifying him at this time.
Neighbor Kenny McGraw told our broadcast partners at NBC10 that he recognized the man. He said the man had suffered strokes, he couldn’t speak, and he probably had no ill intent.
"He saw that the dogs were in there, and he just opened up the gate. Why? We don't know — just that he had two strokes," McGraw said. “I haven't seen him in, like, maybe five years, but I knew exactly when I seen him who he was, and I knew he wasn't in his right mind.”
The shooting is under investigation. The three other dogs that were uninjured remain at the property.