Report on Fox 5

Recent incidents involving dogs in Balboa Park have been making headlines, highlighting the ongoing issues with friendly and aggressive canines and their owners roaming the area.

Yesterday, a high-speed pursuit involving about ten police cars ended on Laurel Street, across from the historic Cabrillo Bridge. However, a tiny black Chihuahua captured more attention on the NextDoor app than the police activity itself.

Next Door video of stand-off over small dog

"So the police chase ended with a standoff, and the culprit's dog bolted down Laurel Street," NextDoor user James said in a caption under his video. "It's a black Chihuahua. If you see it, please let the police know."

A neighbor of the Padres' ballpark, Yolanda, found the little dog. "I just dropped her off at the humane society on Gaines Street," she said.

Last week, less than a mile north of the standoff, two police officers were called to an encampment in Balboa Park regarding another unleashed dog.

On July 29, around 6 pm, two policemen were addressing complaints about a transient man and woman with an unleashed dog near 6th Avenue and Balboa Drive — according to multiple reports online.

"The dog became agitated and attacked the officer. Before the officer could get the dog off, it bit his leg twice. He fired two rounds from his service pistol to get the dog off of him," police Lieutenant Christian Sharp told NBC 7 News. The dog then took off and was found shortly after. It was then brought to a veterinarian.

Rose G., a park visitor, witnessed the incident. "It was insane to see all that manpower because someone complained about transients,” she said. “The dog did bite the officer, but don't they have tasers or pepper spray?"

Many others online thought the same thing as Rose; the dog, reportedly a pit bull, survived.

"There is no time for less lethal options," Lieutenant Sharp explained. "The officer could have suffered significant ligament or muscle damage."

The injured officer, who had wounds on his lower leg, was taken to the hospital, and reports later said that he was OK.

Online, there was more sympathy for the dog than the injured officer. However, some people acknowledge that the dog's owners, who were reportedly detained, are responsible.

Rebecca Stone commented: "The dog survived, but yes, it was injured because the homeless person couldn't control it. Allowing homeless people to have medium or large dogs is dangerous for everyone. This wasn't a random canyon; it was Balboa Park. We're lucky it was someone with self-defense skills and not a tourist."

Virginia G., another dog owner who lives south of Balboa Park, says aggressive dogs in their neighborhood and park have been an ongoing issue. So much so that she's hoping she can hide her tiny pooch in a "dog stroller so I can walk to the bus or trolley downtown without any huge, mean, unleashed dogs attacking us from the many tents downtown. I actually take my dog far away to walk—it’s so dangerous."

John S., a photographer who hangs out at Balboa Park, believes the dog issue is being exaggerated. "These dogs keep the homeless company and happy. They protect them from being attacked or robbed while sleeping."

Reports of homeless dog owners and aggressive dogs in Balboa Park are rampant on NextDoor, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, and Yelp. Lately, some attribute this to fewer visitors and tourists carrying cash, resulting in less panhandling money and grumpier attitudes among people experiencing homelessness, which affects their dogs. 

Since the pandemic, many San Diegans have become accustomed to walking their dogs off-leash, contributing to the problem. And consequently, since 2022, off-leash dog owners have been getting fined on-site almost $300 by the San Diego Humane Society staff, some wearing similar dark-blue-colored uniforms as the SDPD.

The incidents involving dogs in Balboa Park underscore a complex issue on a national level involving public safety, homeless populations, and animal welfare. Approximately 3.5 million Americans are homeless, and between 5 percent and 10 percent of transients have dogs and/or cats, with the rate rising to as high as 24 percent in some parts of the country.

 Many homeless people cannot afford to spay or neuter their pets, contributing to overcrowded shelters. But many don't know there are free-of-charge resources for homeless pet owners, such as Paws San Diego and Pets Without Walls.

While some argue for stricter control measures, others emphasize the non-judgemental companionship and protection these dogs provide their owners. The community remains divided on the best approach to address these concerns.

In similar news at Balboa Park, on #GoSkateDay 2023, unruly skateboarders pummeled a dogwalker with their skateboards.