Vicious & dangerous dog hearings ::

A collection of vicious and dangerous dog hearings captured on video or audio. These quasi-judicial hearings often attempt to be less formal, not requiring participants to have an attorney.

Featured videos & audio

Pit bull attack - Elijah Attacks Dog Tied in Garage

Dangerous Dog Hearing

November 25, 2024
San Francisco, California | 44m

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On July 5, 2024, a man was working in his garage with his dog tethered nearby, when a neutered pit bull, "Elijah," dragged its dog walker into the garage and latched onto the other dog's face and would not let go. Elijah was determined to be a "vicious and dangerous dog."
Husky attack - Max hunts toddler

Dangerous Dog Hearing

August 6, 2024
San Francisco, California | 1h, 53m

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On May 22, 2024, a 3-year old neutered husky, "Max," bolted out from under a table at a pizzeria and hunted down a toddler like prey. The baby's nanny got the child away. A year earlier, Max attacked a senior dog unprovoked in a lobby. Max was ordered to be euthanized.

Pit bull attack - Chyna Kills Bambi

Dangerous Dog Hearing

April 25, 2023
San Francisco, California | 5m, 22m

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On February 28, 2023, a rescue pit bull, "Chyna," flew out of an open garage door, grabbed a small dog, "Bambi, by the neck, and shook the dog for five minutes, killing it. The attack was captured by on Ring camera video. Chyna was determined to be a "vicious and dangerous dog."
Pit bull attack - Public Library

Dangerous Dog Hearing

February 1, 2022
San Francisco, California | 1h, 51m

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On January 16, 2022, a security officer at the central San Francisco Public Library was attacked by an alleged "service" pit bull while attempting to check on the welfare of its owner, who was unresponsive and slumped over a desk. Part of the attack was captured on video.

Documentary series

A documentary team created a three-part series about the failure of San Francisco Animal Care and Control to enforce leash laws, to monitor vicious dogs and to operate a fair hearing process.

Documentary - Vicious and Dangerous Dogs Unleashed

Vicious and Dangerous Dogs

November 2018
San Francisco, California | 44m

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The second installment focuses on the failure of San Francisco Animal Care and Control to properly manage the risks posed by vicious and dangerous dogs. It features parts of hearings and a presentation by John Denny, a veteran Vicious and Dangerous Dog hearing officer.
Documentary - San Francisco Animal Control Conflicts of Interest

Conflict of Interest: Animal Control

May 2019
San Francisco, California | 34m

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The third installment focuses on the shameless conflict of interest of Virginia Donohue in serving as the Executive Director of San Francisco Animal Care and Control (SFACC) while co-owning a private, for-profit animal boarding and canine training facility in San Francisco.

Criminal defense attorneys

When defense attorneys are involved, the tone of these administrative hearings shifts dramatically. Defense attorneys do not always help the owner of the accused dog win their case either.

dogo argentino dangerous dog hearing

Dangerous Dog Hearing

May 28, 2019
Los Angeles, California | 24m

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In January 2019, an unaltered dogo Argentino named "Archi" escaped its owner's property and brutally attacked a man jogging on Amestoy Avenue. During this appeal hearing, the commissioners tell the defense attorney a few times, "You are not helping your case."
Bear Dangerous Dog Hearing

Dangerous Dog Hearing

March 18, 2016
Miami-Dade County, Florida | 30m

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In 2015, three family dogs brutally attacked and killed Carmen Reigada, 91. The perpetrators were an American bulldog-mix, "Bear," a Rhodesian ridgeback-mix and a Labrador-mix. Reigada's great-grandson owned the dogs and appealed the county's ruling to euthanize the dogs.

Additional hearings

Criminal trial hearings

City council meetings

Vicious dog hearings

Videos of vicious dog attacks »