Two pit bulls attack and injure man in Newport News

NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia – A Newport News man expressed remorse after his two pit bulls attacked a 65-year-old man over the weekend.

Marvin Jackson owns a 1-year-old male pit bull and a 2 1/2-year-old female pit bull who is also pregnant. He said his dogs run free in his fenced-in backyard at his home on the corner of 33rd Street and Roanoke Avenue.

However, the male pit bull escaped early Sunday morning after hearing a noise. Jackson believes the dog was trying to protect the female.

“So he jumps over this gate and goes under the fence, and then he runs at the guy standing across here, but he just runs at him barking; he doesn’t respond,” Jackson claimed.

Jackson claims the man kicked the dog, causing the female dog and then the male dog to run over to join in the attack.

“When the guy started kicking and hitting him, I said, ‘No, don’t do that.’ I grabbed Niko and the guy started hitting Niko on the head with a brush,” he said.

Jackson said the dogs bit the man on the arm before he was able to get them off him. According to the Newport News Animal Control Department, someone called 911 and animal control officers were on the scene at 7:33 a.m. and took the dogs into custody.

Jackson said he tied a rope to the fence to prevent the dogs from escaping, but that did not prevent the attack. He said he feels sincere remorse.

“I really apologize tonight. If there’s anything I can do, just let me know,” Jackson said.

He said both dogs will be quarantined for 10 days and will be told what happens next after those days. According to the Newport News Animal Welfare Department, there are no banned dog breeds in the city.

According to the Newport News Animal Control Department, charges have been filed against the owner.