Four Pitbulls are now under lock and key at Liberty animal control.
They’re being held as evidence in the death of an unidentified 34-year-old Hispanic man.
A Selma woman coming home from work Tuesday night found the man dead in her driveway.
The coroner says he was fatally mauled, but it's still unclear what prompted the attack. "They have what they call a pack mentality. One dog is going and the others will gather in and it can get ugly,” said Animal Control Officer Daniel Bailey.
Animal control officers impounded twelve dogs from the Pitbull owner's home, seven puppies, one Chihuahua mix and the rest are Pitbull mixes.
Officers say the owner surrendered the dogs for good. “They will not be returning back to him,” said Bailey.
CBS47 legal Analyst Carl Faller says a dog owner in this situation can face manslaughter or second degree murder charges. “If you have awareness that the animal is a threat to human life and you do not take reasonable steps to protect public, then you are found to have acted with implied malice,” said Faller.
The owner of the dogs that attacked has not been implicated in any way but the investigation is ongoing.
Fresno's Bully Rescue is defending the Pitbull breed, saying that it all comes down to how a dog is raised. “Almost any dog can be, without proper socialization, can trigger excitement which can turn to aggression, depending on how they're raised. Responsible ownership is definitely key,” said Becky Holly of the Bully Rescue.
