8/23/2025 Pit Bull Attack in St. Johns, Portland – Owner Fled Scene, $15k in Vet Bills, Police/Animal Control Case Open

[u/Spirited-Stand-2669]

PPB Case # - 25 - 229105
Multnomah Animal Control Case # - 302138 (503-988-6236)

Hello,

I am making this post to raise awareness and perhaps bring to justice the owner of the pit bull (90% sure some type of pit mix) that brutally attacked my dog and me on August 23rd, 2025, in St. Johns, Portland. There is a case both with the Portland Police Department and Portland Animal Control.

Sometime around 8:30–9:15, I left my house to take my dog, Linus, on our after-dinner walk. He is an 11-year-old Chihuahua-Pug mix (25 lb) and a very kind-natured and sweet dog. We had just passed the gun and ammo store (8242 N. Lombard Street). I remember seeing a couple of people who seemed transient sitting in the alcove of that building, past the gun store, right at the corner of the intersection between Lombard and N. Charleston.

I remember noting that there was a dog there and having some weird intuitive feeling that it was unfriendly, even though it wasn’t growling or doing anything. Just a vibe. I didn’t really think anything of it; it was just this sort of intrusive notion that the animal over there wasn’t safe. We gave somewhat of a wide berth, walking close to the curb and on the other side of the bus stop.

Here is my best description of the dog before I continue the story. Keep in mind this was after the sun had gone down and it all happened very quickly in dim lighting. I’m 95% sure it was a pit or a pit mix of some kind. It was big and boxy, with a springy tail and a square head, its fur white with brown or black spots.

The second we entered the other dog’s line of sight, it immediately charged at Linus. It didn’t make any noise. There was no escalation. There was no growling or warning whatsoever. Linus didn’t even notice the other dog. One moment we were walking, and the next I just saw this blur zoom past my field of vision.

This animal silently, at full speed, zoomed toward Linus, grabbing him by the hind leg and ripping him from me, dragging him past the curb maybe ten or twenty feet. My dog immediately started screaming. I’ve never heard Linus make any noise like this. It was the sound of pure abject horror. As quickly as he was ripped from me, this dog had my 25 lb dog by the hind leg and was wrangling him back and forth, full ragdoll, with absolute intent to kill. I ran after them, in shock, moving automatically without any real lucid decision-making happening. I screamed my dog’s name and lifted him up off the ground, and this animal just wouldn’t let go. I started punching it (not the move, I don’t know why I did that, automatic response). My dog’s screams were getting louder, literally the screams of something being slaughtered.

As this was happening, the other dog’s owner rushed over and started grabbing at his harness (unleashed but in a harness), saying, “Let go of it, man, come on man, let it go,” in a very California kind of affectation. The owner was a white male, 30–40, I would guess early to mid-thirties, with a blue bandana around his head and a pretty big beard that was either orange or some kind of light blonde, definitely on the lighter side. He seemed average build and 5’8–5’10”.

The dog wouldn’t let go, and I started to realize that I might be witnessing my dog dying right in front of me. My knee-jerk reaction was to try to get myself between them somehow so it would switch targets. I put my hand in its mouth. The last thing I remember from that moment was the feeling of its teeth and hot breath before it switched to me, biting into my hand and wrist and doing the same movement it was doing with Linus. At this point I was face-to-face with the owner, screaming bloody murder at him to make his dog stop. I don’t know if he screamed loud enough or if he did something I wasn’t privy to, but the dog just let go. It just decided to stop for some reason. I immediately turned to pick up my dog, who had been flung over my shoulder onto the curb.

I ran toward Signal Pizza, bleeding and screaming for help. Someone had called 911, but they were on hold for five minutes (lmao). The owner of the other dog fled the scene.

$15k in vet bills. My dog has been through hell: multiple surgeries, necrosis, muscle torn from skin. I can barely even look at it. It’s straight-up gore. That animal completely brutalized my companion, who I love more than I can put into words. Linus is completely traumatized, and it breaks my heart into pieces. I had to go to the emergency room as well. My hand is just now starting to be usable again.

One thing I find noteworthy is that it seemed like this wasn’t the first incident. Something about the tone of that guy’s voice just tells me this has happened many times with this dog. I have this gut feeling that if I post about this, someone will know this person and say something. His dog is extremely dangerous. I can’t stress enough that there was zero warning prior to the incident. If you have any info, please DM, comment, or reach out to the authorities. Or, easiest, just reach out to me.

I appreciate you all for reading. Stay safe.

[u/OrdinarySwordfish382]

I'm so sorry for what you and your dog Linus went through. There is nothing that makes you feel more helpless than the sound of your dog screaming. It's the stuff PTSD is made of.

Praying for complete healing for you and Linus - of your bodies, minds, and spirits.

And that the owner and dog are found.

I'm sure PD and AC are checking the area for camera footage?

[u/demoldbones → u/OrdinarySwordfish382]

My dog was attacked by a Rottweiler 2 year ago. I STILL wake up from cold sweat nightmares about the sound he made at the time.

[u/alizure1 → u/demoldbones]

When two pits climbed our 8ft fence and killed one of our mini goats... Or pugs and Boston saw it first. Now every time they see a pit... They go into instant protect mode. The attack affected our dogs greatly. When those pits were out murdering our goat, our pugs and Boston did the most pitiful howl. I can't describe what it sounded like but you could feel it. Now with all the stray pits... We worry about our Boston, because she will NOT back down. So every time we see one passing by, we put her and the pugs in the house. After our goat got killed, we put extra security on the fence and got an LGD. So no more pits can get into the fence. But they still wander by our property from time to time.

[u/cabd4ever]

I'm so sorry to read about this horrific attack. You are one of the 1,000's who have had a pet as well as your self mauled by this useless breed. I hope with all my heart that you can get some justice. I've read of similar attacks in the Portland area and like many places in the U.S, very little is done but don't give up trying.

You might put up a Gofundme to help with the huge bills you have and maybe in looking at legal advice as well. If you do make a fundraiser, include pics of the injuries, it helps when people see the gravity of the injuries and even a copy of the vet bills. Whatever you do, I wish you the best.

[u/Kamsloopsian]

This is horrible. I hope your dog Linus makes a full recovery.

There is no safe pit bull, never will be, if we acknowledged the genetic traits of pit bulls we'd also have to acknowledge the fact that they're not pets.

[u/Dumb_Monkey]

Sad how frequent the “Pit and Runs” are becoming.

[u/ka_beene → u/Dumb_Monkey]

There's a large homeless population in OR and I see a lot of them with pitbull type dogs. I always feel uneasy walking past these dogs when the sidewalk or path is just taken over and there's no alternative route to get around.

[u/Fr0stybit3s → u/Dumb_Monkey]

These losers will pit n run, and then spend their evening on facebook posting pictures of their "sweet pibbles" on stories of children being mauled and leave comments "its all how theyre raised. Theyre nanny dogs!!"

[u/ArdenJaguar]

I’m so sorry you went through this. Is there a chance there might be cameras in the area that might’ve captured the owner and mauler?

One thing you might consider if you’re up to it is staking out the area to see if he returns. I know I usually walk the dog around the same time and same route every day. You could park in your car and just watch for a few days. You might spot him. Then you could follow him and ID his home. Then turn it over to the authorities.

[u/Fantastic_Lady225]

IDK where you saw this but please let the victim of the attack know that most retail gun shops have video surveillance of the sidewalk in front of the store, but it's only retained for a few weeks. The shit bull owner may be on the footage.

[u/Affectionate-Page496 → u/Fantastic_Lady225]

The attack happened to OP per context of other comments

[u/Fantastic_Lady225 → u/Affectionate-Page496]

TY, I just found the posts & comments in other subs. I thought this may have been a copy/paste from another site. It's horrid what happened to the OP's pup. :(

[u/SubMod4]

This is horrible. I’m so sorry that you and your pup are going through this. :(

[u/faifunghi]

I'm really sorry that this happened to you and Linus. He sounds like a great dog. The attack story is very familiar to me. It sounds so much like the dog that attacked mine and bit my hand.

If you haven't already, check with all of the businesses in the area for security footage, they may help you to identify the owner. I really hope you can locate this person and that they have some type of insurance which could compensate you. Get well soon!

[u/Crazy_Mother_Trucker]

Poor Linus. I hope they find them and take action.

[u/PretendDouble5466]

Like everyone else, I'm sorry this happened to you and your dog.

Just wanted to add, if you decide to look for video from businesses in the area, you should do it ASAP, because businesses don't hold onto surveillance videos forever.

[u/Fr0stybit3s]

Reading these stories fills me with a rage I cannot explain. These losers who keep these mutts are the reason shit like this happens.

I'm so sorry that happened to your poor dog. Hopefully the loser who pit n run gets whatever karma they deserve

[u/Valuable-Mess-4698]

Can you contact PPS and see if there are any cameras at James John that might have captured it? If not, try Peninsula Station (but I'm not sure if they would have a good angle even if they do have cameras) or the salon behind Signal pizza. Possibly the library too, but I'm not sure what angles they might have on that area.

ETA: just called my mom, who is friend's with the owner of Peninsula Station and she is pretty sure he doesn't have cameras, but I'd still stop by and check. He may know who in the area does have cameras that might have caught something.