Early Saturday morning April 16, a woman was attacked by five pit bull dogs near the intersection of East Marland Street and Fifth Street in Hobbs.

According to a Hobbs Police Department press release (PDF) of Monday, April 18, officers were dispatched to the location at 7:27 am, April 16, to respond to a “vicious dog attack”. 

Upon arrival at the scene, officers “…observed ripped clothing, blood in the roadway, and other items but could not locate a victim,” states the press release.

Witness Provides Information

Later, a witness told officers that a 46-year-old woman, a resident of Hobbs, had been attacked by five pit bull dogs. The witness also informed the officers that she had given “the victim a ride to a friend’s house in the 500 block of E Marland.”

Upon locating the victim, Hobbs police officers and EMS staff gave her medical treatment, after which she was taken to Covenant Hospital.

Owner of Dogs

Through their investigation officers learned that the victim was attacked by five pit bull dogs while walking on East Marland Street. Four of the pit bulls are owned by Ricardo Garcia, age 61. Garcia resides in the 1200 block of East Marland Street. The other pit bull is thought to be a stray.

“Garcia claims his dogs dug out from under the fence and he was unaware of them getting loose,” states the press release.

Victim Defended Herself with Knife

The press release continues “As the victim was being attacked she defended herself with a knife. Upon Officers’ arrival, they observed one deceased pit bull on scene and another was humanely euthanized by animal control officers due to the injuries it had received.”

The remaining dogs are now “quarantined” at the Hobbs Animal Adoption Center (HAAC). The adoption center will follow New Mexico’s mandated quarantine period and then “humanely euthanize” the three animals. 

In an article published on April 13, the Lea County Tribune informed the public of the temporary closure of HAAC as a result of an ongoing canine distemper outbreak.

Dog Owner Cited

Garcia has “surrendered his rights to his dogs”. 

He has, further, been cited into Hobbs City Court on four counts of “Animals Running at Large”, on three counts of “Animal License” (non-compliance) and on three counts of “Animal Rabies Vaccinations” (non-compliance).

The April 16 incident is not the first time Garcia has had trouble with his dogs. The press release states that Garcia was summoned into Hobbs City Court earlier this month, on April 8, for “one of the pit bulls running at large”. 

After being treated at Covenant Hospital, the victim of the dog attack was released and is now recovering at home.