San Diego, California News Station - KFMB Channel 8 - cbs8.comMembers of running family attacked by pack of pit bulls

Members of running family attacked by pack of pit bulls

SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - Two members of a well-known running family are hospitalized Monday after getting mauled by a pack of dogs.

It happened Sunday night near Valley Center Middle School as the two brothers were running with their two sisters and a niece.

"My brother, he came back for me and saved my life. I don't think I could have made it without him," Richard Garritson said.

The Garritsons, with 10 boys and four girls, are a well-known running family, and for years they've all trained in the hills behind their home. On Sunday, 21-year-old Richard Garritson was running with his two younger sisters, his 10-year-old niece and his brother John when they were attacked.

"At least six dogs came out of the bushes," Richard Garritson said.

John Garritson told the girls to run for their lives. Then he went back to save Richard.

"My whole thought was 'I'm going to die,' and I just kept slamming rocks in their face, but they wanted blood," John Garritson said.

According to animal services, the pit bulls were from a home on the San Pasqual Reservation. The brothers say the dogs' owner did little to help.

"He was looking at us like, 'What am I supposed to do about it?' and as I'm being ripped to pieces, my brother and I were yelling 'Please help us, get some help,' and the guy just stood there for maybe an extra five minutes, just staring," John Garritson said.

Several minutes later, the boys say the dog owner finally grabbed the pack leader.

"I'm not sure what he said but it was along the lines of 'Screw you, I'm not getting involved with this,'" John said.

Screaming for help and without a cell phone, Richard and John say they limped more than a mile in the dark for medical attention.

"It must have been an hour or so in the cold, with blood just everywhere. My legs drenched in blood," Richard Garritson said.

According to animal services, four of the dogs have already been put down, and the owner could face charges.

"To be attacked by a pack of dogs has got to be a horrific experience, something that we don't want to see ever happen again," Lt. Dan DeSousa of the San Diego County Department of Animal Services said.

Despite dozens of wounds, the brothers actually feel sad for the dogs.

"It's almost too bad, it's more bad ownership than dogs, I say. He didn't seem like he treated these dogs that well. He seemed like an evil person," Richard Garritson said.

The owner of the dogs was not identified by animal services, so we were unable to contact him to get his side of the story.