Beaumont Animal Care, Police collaborate to determine dog ownership in fatal attack

BEAUMONT 12/17/24 — Beaumont Animal Care is investigating what it says is the first fatal dog attack in Beaumont in the last 30 years. That's as far back as anyone can remember.

Staff at Beaumont Animal Care are regularly checking on two dogs currently in quarantine, carefully handling the pair of pitbulls that killed a man Monday morning. Beaumont Animal Care Manager Matthew Fortenberry says Animal Care investigates dog bites weekly, but even the cases with severe injury haven't resulted in death.

“I was in shock because in my 32 years here with the city, this is the first time that we've had a fatality from a dog attack,” said Fortenberry.

The pitbulls attacked 78-year-old Hector Pierna in front of his home on Orange Avenue in Beaumont. He later died at Christus Saint Elizabeth.

“We don't know how they got out or why they were out, but it is a violation of the ordinance,” said Fortenberry.

Animals in the city of Beaumont are required to be indoors, fenced in, tethered in their yards, or leashed when walking with owners.

Fortenberry says normally, an owner might face a fine for allowing an animal to wander, but in this case the penalty may be worse.

“They could face steeper penalties anything up to like manslaughter charges,” said Fortenberry.

Fortenberry says BAC is now working with Beaumont Police to determine who owns the pit bulls and their background.

“If they knew that their animals had a tendency to attack people or if they find out that these animals had been involved in any other attacks then they could be liable,” said Fortenberry.

Animal care says there've been no complaints about stray dogs in the neighborhood in the last six months, but neighbors tell us they see stray dogs and other animals all the time.

Fortenberry says it's important that pet owners be responsible.

“You may think you have the nicest dog in the world, but you don't know what's going to trigger it to do something like this, especially with certain breeds that have a tendency to do that,” said Fortenberry.

The Animal Care Manager says to call the facility to deal with stray animals so they can step in before it's too late. Fortenberry says the animals will have to be euthanized, but right now they're being kept alive due to an ordinance requirement to check for rabies and to assist the investigation.