Pregnant Woman Needs Stitches After Costa Mesa Dog Bites Her

A pregnant woman walking through a quiet Costa Mesa neighborhood with her fiance was attacked and bitten by a dog Saturday after the animal escaped from its fenced yard through an unlatched gate, police said.

The 2-year-old boxer leaped at Sarah Atkins, 20, biting her in the neck and right arm, while at least two other dogs broke free from the same property, according to Costa Mesa police.

Atkins, who is 7 1/2 months pregnant, was rushed to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach. She suffered a bite to her neck that required four stitches, said Costa Mesa Police Sgt. Darell Freeman. The dog also inflicted a puncture wound on Atkins’ arm near her elbow, Freeman said.

“She was pretty traumatized,” he said.

The woman’s fiance, Edward Lopez, 22, suffered a scratched elbow while trying to drive off the animal.

The couple from Irvine were attacked shortly after 5 p.m. as they strolled past the dogs’ home in the 500 block of Hamilton Street. The dogs managed to escape by pushing open a chain-link gate that kept them in the home’s side yard.

The pets’ owner ran out during the attack and pulled the animals inside, Freeman said. Paramedics quickly arrived, followed by city animal-control officers. The owner muzzled the boxer and handed the pet over to officers, who placed it in quarantine, Freeman said.

Freeman said that animal-control officers will investigate the incident and decide the fate of the animal and whether the owner should be cited.