Stray dogs attack jogger on Trinity’s campus

TUPD and Cat Alliance advise students to look out for stray dogs

by Robert Bilyeu

A pack of wild dogs attacked a woman who was jogging last Monday on campus around 10 a.m. Trinity has had problems in the past with wild dogs attacking cats on campus, but attacking people is new. “I can’t remember the last time we had a call where dogs were running wild attacking our students,” said Pete Perez, assistant chief police of Trinity University Police Department. Mike Schweitzer, assistant director of Facilities Services, was on the scene when the attack happened and spoke to the San Antonio resident who
was attacked.

“She said, ‘They attacked me,’” Schweitzer said. “They bit her and broke the skin on her calf. We’re uncertain how many dogs attacked her, but there were three dogs in the pack.” Schweitzer had been taking pictures with his camera nearby when he heard a commotion near Lot B. He had just spoken with the jogger, and after she had turned the corner, she was attacked suddenly by the dogs.

“I heard this horrible scream from this woman and glanced down the hill and could see her moving,” Schweitzer said. “I knew something was wrong, because she continued to scream, and I immediately got on my golf cart and headed towards her. “

Schweitzer was able to take pictures of the dogs with his camera, and explained that they did not appear like the typical stray dog. They weren’t unkempt and looked similar to each other, but none of them had collars, which would have signifed ownership. After he spoke with the jogger, Schweitzer called for medical attention for her, which arrived momentarily.

The woman was treated on the scene. “From my understanding she’s fne. They just dressed up her injuries. It wasn’t a deep cut but enough to require some medical attention,” Perez said. According to Vee DuBose, co-director of the Cat Alliance, San Antonio has hundreds of stray dogs, many of which run in packs. DuBose said there have been several occasions in the past where cats were attacked as well, but this attack on a jogger doesn’t change what should occur if people see any wild dogs roaming on campus. Perez agrees with Dubose.

“The main concern is to call us right away so we can assist the situation,” Perez said. Typically, the dogs will go after cats, as with the four attacks that occurred over the winter break, but DuBose explained that it is not possible to keep the cats indoors.

“We are trying to get as many people involved as possible to watch for dogs on campus and reporting it, certainly to us if it involves cats,” DuBose said.The attack hasn’t changed the desired student response from both TUPD and the Cat Alliance. They are both concerned with raising awareness about the existence of the stray dogs.

They stress students to be on the lookout for stray dogs and to try avoid being attacked, and all agree that notifying TUPD is the best way to handle the situation. TUPD can be reached at 210-999-7070.