Laura Solomon, a resident of Montecito Estates neighborhood in Albuquerque, recently spoke to KOAT to express her concerns about the increase of aggressive dog incidents in her community.
"I hate feeling like a hostage in my own home," she said.
Multiple attacks from aggressive dogs have left residents in the Montecito Estates neighborhood afraid to leave their homes. Residents are asking their homeowners association (HOA) and Animal Welfare to step up and find a solution to the problem. Multiple security camera videos throughout the neighborhood show a tan-looking pit bull attacking children.
One specific video showed two young boys riding scooters when the dog attacked. At that point, the boys jumped off their scooters, screaming for help as they tried to run back inside the home. One person showed pictures of the aftermath of her dog being mauled by the pit bull. The medical bills from that attack totaled more than $1,400. Animal Welfare reports showed that the incidents date all the way back to May 2022.
"It's been almost a year since these dogs have gotten loose in our neighborhood and just wreaked complete havoc," Solomon said. "Pets are being mauled or attacked. Young kids are being chased into their houses."
Amanda Bearce, another Montecito Estates resident, encountering the dog on the street after it attacked another pet in the neighborhood.
"Very bloody, like literally," she said. "And it was very creepy. He ran up to my husband with that big smile. You knew something had to have happened because of just the amount of blood that there was. It was pretty intense. And our kids saw it too and were so freaked out by the amount of blood."
The Montecito Estates HOA released a statement addressing the issue.
"The board of directors is aware of two incidents involving the aggressive behavior of dogs," the statement said. "There were no serious injuries and both incidents were promptly reported to the city of Albuquerque animal welfare department. Montecito Estates HOA has no authority to ban, seize or expel personal pets as they are the private property of their owner."
Since the incidents are still under investigation, Animal Welfare was unable to comment.
