A 62-year-old man was mauled to death by a pack of three dogs along the Mason Creek Hike and Bike Trail in the Morton Ranch area of Katy, Texas, officials said.

The attack killed the man before first responders could arrive and prompted a closure of trail areas on Monday and Tuesday following the attacks as animal welfare officials warned residents about loose dogs in the neighborhood.

Witnesses described the victim as a regular on the trail. Local reporting said the man left for his walk and did not return, and later was found fatally injured on the path.

The same three dogs later attacked a mother and her 2-year-old twin children outside her home, where the woman placed her son behind her as the animals jumped on her. Both the mother and the toddler were bitten multiple times but are expected to recover, according to local accounts.

Animal control authorities characterized the presence of loose dogs in the area as a public safety crisis and urged residents to report dangerous animals to the appropriate agencies. The Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care (BARC) described the situation in those terms and stressed community vigilance.

“Parents are encouraged to keep children close and avoid engaging with unfamiliar animals,” animal welfare officials said.

The fatal attack took place on the Mason Creek Hike and Bike Trail in the Morton Ranch area of Katy, and the follow-up incident occurred in a nearby parking area, according to local coverage of the events. Neighbors and trail users expressed alarm after what had been described as routine activity on a normally quiet path turned deadly.

Officials closed park areas on Tuesday while they responded to the incidents and assessed public safety needs. The closure was intended to allow animal control and local authorities to investigate and to reduce the risk of further encounters between people and the animals involved.

Local outlets provided on-the-ground accounts and context for residents seeking details about the sequence of events; KHOU captured reporting on the second attack and neighborhood reaction, and Houston Public Media covered community safety concerns following the fatal mauling.

Residents in the Morton Ranch area said the attacks have prompted renewed attention to loose animals near public trails. Animal control agencies are urging anyone with information about the dogs or the incidents to come forward so authorities can take appropriate action.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.