10-Year-Old Boy Severely Injured by Two Pit Bulls at an Antioch Home on Reseda Way

What Happened on Reseda Way

On August 11, 2013, a 10-year-old boy was at a friend's home in the 2000 block of Reseda Way in Antioch, getting ready to play video games, when one of two pit bulls at the house attacked him, according to CBS San Francisco. When he was knocked to the ground, the second dog joined the attack.

The boy was bitten on his arms, head, and face, and part of his ear was severed. His friend, a boy about the same age, was also bitten while trying to pull the dogs away. The injured boy was treated at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, where he underwent two skin graft surgeries and was hospitalized for more than a week. Reports said he had some nerve damage to his face.

Antioch Animal Services took both dogs into custody and placed them in quarantine. East County Today also reported on the attack. We are not naming the child.

Why Dog Attacks on Children Are So Serious

Children are bitten more often than adults and are far more likely to be bitten on the face, head, and neck because of their height. Injuries like the ones in this attack can require reconstructive surgery, leave permanent scarring, and carry emotional effects that last well beyond the hospital stay.

This article is an archival report based on news coverage from 2013. It does not assign blame to any person.

How California Law Protects Children Hurt by Dogs

Under California Civil Code section 3342, a dog's owner is strictly liable when the dog bites someone who is in a public place or lawfully on private property, including a child invited over by a friend. The injured person does not have to prove the dog had bitten anyone before.

Claims involving children often focus on future needs: scar revision and plastic surgery, counseling, and how visible scarring may affect a child over a lifetime. When the attack happens at a home, a homeowner's or renter's insurance policy often provides the coverage. California law also generally pauses the filing deadline for injured minors until they turn 18, although some deadlines, such as claims against public agencies, work differently.

Our guide to children and dog bites covers these issues in more detail. If your child was hurt by a dog in East County, see our Antioch dog bite lawyer page or our Antioch personal injury lawyer hub.