Condition of Boy, 7, Attacked by 3 Dogs, Improves

The condition of a 7-year-old boy attacked by three German shepherds this week improved Thursday, officials said.

The dogs repeatedly bit Angel Lopez of Panorama City while he was at the home of a 10-year-old neighbor in the 7800 block of Peachtree Avenue on Tuesday night, said Capt. Robert Pena of the city Department of Animal Regulation.

Angel, who was in critical condition after the incident, was reported in good condition Thursday.

The boy suffered bites to his right arm, back, neck and lip, but the most severe injury was to his scalp, part of which was torn off by the dogs, said Steve Rutledge, a spokesman for Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles.

Angel underwent plastic surgery to his scalp, and will require more surgery over time, Rutledge said. The boy should be released in a few days, he said.

According to Pena, the dogs have been relinquished by their owner and are being held under quarantine at the East Valley animal shelter in North Hollywood. The animals will be held there for 10 days to determine whether they have rabies, he said, and probably be euthanized.

The dogs, which were kept in the backyard, somehow entered the neighbor’s home and attacked Angel in the living room, police said. An adult helped free Angel from the dogs and the boy ran home, where his mother called paramedics.