EXCLUSIVE: Dog that attacked 3-year-old in San Francisco had previously bitten another dog

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — New developments in the case of a 3-year-old boy who was attacked by a dog in San Francisco last month. ABC7 News reporter Luz Pena has learned that the dog was involved in another biting incident with another dog last year.

On May 13, 2023, an 8-year-old dog named “Ajaxx” sneaked out of his apartment while his owner was taking out the trash. Seconds later, Ajaxx was attacked by another dog.

“I went to look for him and just seconds later I heard him screaming downstairs and ran into the lobby,” said Joey DeHaven.

After the incident, Ajaxx’s owner Joey DeHaven filed a dog bite report. He described the dog that attacked Ajaxx as his neighbor’s dog named “Max.”

Ajaxx “suffered multiple stab wounds, two to the top of the neck and two to the bottom,” the report said.

VIDEO: San Francisco family furious after 3-year-old son attacked by dog, owners walk away

DeHaven said Ajaxx’s veterinarian said his dog’s weight helped with the bite: “He weighs too much and Max couldn’t pick him up and shake him to break his neck.”

This report was the last time Joey DeHaven heard from Max. A year later, another attack surfaced involving Max.

This time, surveillance video showed Max running toward a three-year-old boy and biting him. The boy’s arm required five stitches.

“Suddenly he appeared out of nowhere, charged at him, chased him, pushed him down and brutally bit him on the left arm,” said the boy’s mother.

Now Joey DeHaven asks what happened to the report he filed against this dog in 2023.

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We went to the San Francisco Animal Control Department. They say most dog bites are not investigated. If someone files a report of a vicious or dangerous dog, there is a hearing.

Joey DeHaven filed a bite report, not a report of a vicious or dangerous dog.

“He has not requested a vicious and dangerous dog hearing and it would be really unusual if he had. There are many dog ​​bite cases in the city that do not end up in vicious and dangerous dog court,” said Virginia Donohue, executive director of San Francisco’s Animal Welfare Agency.

Luz Pena: “What happens if someone reports a bite but no report of a vicious or dangerous dog?”

Virginia Donohue: “Nothing happens, they file their report – it’s done. Now if there’s something about the bite report that causes either the police department or the ACC to say, oh wait, there’s something bigger going on here, then either agency can look into it.”

Regarding the 2023 biting incident, Donohue said, “Dog one (Ajaxx) should not have been allowed to walk off leash. Dog two (Max) should not have bitten dog one.”

Donohue said that between 600 and 800 dog bites are reported annually in San Francisco and there are about 100 hearings annually.

“A dog can have a bite without it becoming a vicious and dangerous incident,” Donohue said.

Luz Pena: “Do you think the people of San Francisco know that reporting a bite is not enough for the San Francisco Police to actually investigate that attack?”

Virginia Donohue: “I think that should be clear because on the website they are right next to each other. It clearly states on the website that this is a bite report. If you want a hearing on a vicious and dangerous dog, you need to file the report here.”

We spoke to Max’s owners on the phone and they confirmed both incidents.

The child’s nanny said they didn’t leave any contact information, but Max’s owners told us they tried but believe there was a communication problem because they don’t speak English.

They said a hearing regarding the boy’s biting incident is scheduled for July 8.

The San Francisco Police Department said this investigation was a “high priority due to the severity of the case.”