Three dogs attacked and killed 62-year-old Chhay Leang on the Mason Creek Hike and Bike Trail in Katy around 9 a.m. Monday, authorities said. Dog bites are a significant concern in the U.S., with an estimated 4.5 million people bitten each year, according to the CDC; various studies and compilations of reports suggest on the order of several dozen dog-bite-related deaths annually, though exact yearly counts vary by source and method.

The assault left two other people injured by bites as they tried to intervene, and the three animals were taken into custody by county animal control, officials said. The incident prompted an investigation by local law enforcement and a quarantine of the animals at a county facility, which is a standard procedure given the circumstances surrounding dog attacks.

Harris County Constable Precinct 5 and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the attack, Sgt. Jason Brown, a homicide investigator with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, said Tuesday afternoon as officials worked to piece together how the dogs left their yard. “Right now, homicide detectives are interviewing the owners of the dogs, trying to determine exactly how they escaped from the yard,” he said. Local laws on dog ownership vary widely, and many states impose some form of strict liability on owners for dog bites, depending on the circumstances.

Deputies and animal control responded to the Mason Creek Hike and Bike Trail after the attack at about 9 a.m. Monday. The victim was identified the following day as Chhay Leang, 62, and was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. Experts recommend various proactive community measures to reduce dog bites, such as promoting responsible ownership, public education, and effective enforcement of leash and dangerous-dog laws.

Harris County Public Health’s Veterinary Public Health Division has custody of the three dogs and placed them under rabies observation at the county animal shelter, the agency said. Two of the animals are described as pit bull mixes and were taken in by animal control. The third, identified as a Cane Corso, a type of mastiff, was euthanized by animal control. Around 885,000 dog bite victims require medical attention annually, highlighting the severity of such incidents.

Investigators interviewed the dogs’ owners as part of the inquiry into how the animals got loose. Brown said detectives are gathering evidence to determine whether the circumstances meet the legal standard for additional action, indicating potential ramifications for the dog’s owners. Under Texas law, certain dog attacks can lead to criminal charges or civil liability for owners, depending on the circumstances and applicable statutes such as the dangerous-dog provisions.

Personal injury attorney Adam Loewy, speaking generally about such incidents, noted their rarity. “We’ve seen that through Texas in some cases. It’s obviously not that common, thankfully, these things don’t happen every day,” he said. However, some studies and incident data have examined serious attacks involving certain breeds, and experts emphasize the importance of awareness, supervision, and responsible ownership regardless of breed.

The two people who tried to help the victim received medical treatment for bite injuries, authorities said. The county’s Veterinary Public Health Division is evaluating the animals while they remain in quarantine under state and county rules governing dangerous animals and rabies observation. Footage purporting to show the aftermath of the incident has been shared online, and many commentators have used it to discuss dog safety and ownership responsibilities.

The precise next steps — including any administrative or legal proceedings related to the dogs’ disposition — will follow the county’s review and any court decisions required under local animal-control procedures.

Local footage of the incident has circulated online; one video of the scene is available on .

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Original reporting: view the original article.