By Leticia Juarez

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

JURUPA VALLEY, Calif. (KABC) -- A pool man severely injured in a dog attack in Riverside County is speaking out, as the dog's fate is being determined.

Andy Ortiz was attacked by a pit bull mix as he was cleaning a pool at a rental home in September. He was able to escape by jumping a fence, but not before he suffered injuries to his face, leg and right arm.

"As I lost my balance the dog just attacked me," Ortiz said. "Jumped right on top of me, grabbed my leg immediately, started going at me, and I'm freaking out. As I try to get up, he grabbed my face."

Ortiz said he had told the family in the past that the dog, named Pigbert, was acting aggressively toward him.

Ortiz and the dog's owners, Paul and Catherine Mason, attended a hearing on Wednesday to help determine what should happen to Pigbert.

"He's a sweet dog, he's never hurt, harmed, bit anyone, or been aggressive," said Catherine Mason. "He's the greatest family dog in the world."

The Riverside County Department of Animal Services is recommending the dog be put down. But the dog's owners are hoping they'll be able take him back home.

"Even if Pigbert did commit this, it was one-time where responsible owners were willing to take further precautions more than they already have," said Jeremiah Raxter, attorney for the dog's family.

Ortiz believes he narrowly escaped with his life and doesn't want anyone else to suffer a similar or worse fate.

"It's tough, it's going to be a long road back, but we'll get there," Ortiz said.

Read Full Article & see video of him talking about the attack. 

Click to see map then on the icons to see a picture (when available) of the dog. Also, search your address in the search bar and see if any of these animals live by you.

The dogs displayed here are only those who have caused the most serious bites. NBC7 Investigates excluded dogs who have bitten potentially rabid animals, which were also in the database. Serious bites meet the following definition: a substantial impairment of a person's physical condition which requires professional medical treatment, including loss of consciousness, concussion, bone fracture, protracted loss or impairment of function of a bodily member or organ, a muscle tear, a disfiguring laceration, a wound requiring multiple sutures or an injury that requires surgery to restore the person to the condition the person was in before the incident that resulted in the injury.