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ANIMAL WATCH - A Pit Bull which was stabbed by “a man who approached with a large knife” was credited by one witness “with protecting its owner and others at a Long Beach, CA, homeless encampment.”
A man, who asked to remain anonymous, said he “was awoken by shouting and then recorded the incident,” which occurred on August 2, 2025.
He said a group of unhoused people were standing on the sidewalk near his building on Orange Ave. in Long Beach, CA, when they were approached by another man who lives in an apartment in the building. The man, wielding a knife, was slashing angrily toward the residents of the encampment when a Pit Bull reported to be protecting its owner attacked him.
“The dog is barking, the suspect is yelling and shouting, the homeless people are trying to get away from him,” the man said. “The suspect is yelling that homeless people should ‘get a job.’”
The witness said that is when the homeless people lost hold of the dog’s leash. The Pit Bull named Mazzlyn, then protected its owner by attacking the man, who swiped at the dog multiple times with the knife,” and injuring it, witnesses said.
A “TRAIL OF BLOOD”
"A trail of blood lined the sidewalk of Orange Avenue near Fourth Street early Saturday morning, "the Long Beach Watchdog news reported on August 6, 2025. The camera recorded the man stab at the dog as it appeared to be protecting its owner and others camped on the sidewalk.”
A man, who asked to remain anonymous, said he was awoken by shouting and then recorded the incident. He said a group of unhoused people were standing on the sidewalk near his building at 333 Orange Ave. when they were approached by another man who also lives in the building.
The suspect was angry that the unhoused people were near his building, said the witness who spoke with the victims after the incident.
“Get a Job”
“The dog is barking, the suspect is yelling and shouting, the homeless people are trying to get away from him,” the man said. “The suspect is yelling that homeless people should ‘get a job.’”
The witness said the suspect was approaching the group with a large knife when the people lost hold of the dog’s leash. The dog, a pit bull named Mazzlyn, “then protected its owner by attacking the man,”who swiped at the dog multiple times with the knife,” video shows.
Reports on August 6 allude to this not being just a momentary crime of passion, but a planned attack fueled by on-going rage due to the fact that, “The suspect then fled in a car with another driver.”
According to Long Beach Watchdog on Instagram, A trail of blood lined the sidewalk...
Graphic footage obtained by Traffic News Los Angeles (TNLA) starts by showing a man with a knife walking toward two other men, one of whom is presumably the Pit Bull’s owner.
As the armed man approaches and raises his hand holding the knife, the Pit Bull charges at him, seemingly trying to protect the man or men behind it. The suspect stabs at the dog, appearing to strike it. Long Beach police later confirmed the dog sustained one stab wound.
The dog continued to fight back, barking and jumping at the suspect, possibly trying to bite him, until the other two men intervene, the video shows.
The Long Beach Police Department said officers responded to a 2:23 a.m. report of a stabbing on the 300 block of Orange Avenue, an area located alongside Ben Franklin Classical Middle School, which is currently on summer break.
The TNLA video shows responding officers standing around people cradling the wounded dog.
WHAT WAS LBPD’s FINDINGS -- Good Samaritan steps in.
“Police rendered medical aid to the dog at the scene before a community member took it to a local animal hospital for treatment, KTLA reports, adding that it has reached out to Long Beach Animal Care Services inquiring about the dog’s current status, ttlbbwatchdog.com: A dog is in recovery after being stabbed while protecting its ...the report states.
LBPD’s preliminary investigation indicated that the dog’s owner, a homeless man, was in a verbal fight with the suspect, which escalated when the suspect stabbed at the pit bull.”
The report further states, “The suspect fled before law enforcement arrived, and as of Thursday afternoon, no arrests had been reported in connection with this incident.”
The police department announced that “The investigation is ongoing, and LBPD encourages anyone with information regarding the incident to contact non-emergency dispatch at (562) 435-6711.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PIT BULL?
The volunteers who picked up the wounded Pit Bull said it was taken to a local emergency veterinarian who quoted them $4,000 to treat the dog. Unable to afford the costs, the group returned to the area.
“Meanwhile, several bystanders had alerted Long Beach Animal Care Services about the dog. Animal Control officers and the dog's owner took the dog to another vet, who “stitched up the dog's right shoulder and gave it pain medication,” but did not examine it for more severe internal damage resulting from being stabbed numerous times, according to Melanie Wagner, Bureau Manager for Long Beach Animal Care Services.
A statement posted on-line states that President of the animal-support group Friends of Long Beach Animals, Lauren Campbell, said the organization “proudly covered the cost of Mazzlyn’s surgery.” (Organizations that act to help in these emergencies for animals deserve our thanks and support.)
WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR THIS DOG?
California prides itself on its strict laws for ownership, insurance, and care of dogs. Even though emergency efforts have seemingly saved the dog’s life, there is no way to determine how much damage was done by this incident—physically and behaviorally.
Will this dog—if it can ever walk again-- go back to live in the streets with someone who cannot provide care and both remain “homeless? The dog’s behavior in this instance shows it was afraid for its own safety—not just its owner. Why is allowing/approving/encouraging this dangerous and deprived situation of homeless owning pets approved by U.S. and CA lawmakers?
If the dog survives, will it be returned to someone who cannot afford to care for herself, let alone a badly wounded dog requiring expensive and, potentially lifelong, special care?
THERE IS NOTHING HUMANE ABOUT HOMELESSNESS
Why does America impose such strict (and expensive) rules for the care of animals by those who provide homes; but allow the homeless—with no apparent way to support themselves or a pet—to place society in danger by keeping a large dog, especially a Pit Bull, unhoused and on the streets. This legalizes not having shelter and subjecting the animal to always be legally without food and water available, as is required by CA statewide laws—and not enforcing this is tantamount to “cruelty to animals.”
If a dog that has already attacked a human, under any circumstance, is returned to an owner unable to control it at all times, then the government is violating its own rules and should pay for any damage to property, pets or humans as a result.
“No Kill,” which is designed to attract feel-good donations. does not include observing well-being and safety and does not justify the risk and suffering when laws regarding pet ownership are ignored.
If someone cannot afford the cost of personal shelter, why is it considered humane to participate in allowing them to own a pet in the streets, rather than providing them with a way—and the incentive-- to get the training that will provide opportunities they need to first care for themselves?
It is always wise to remember—when someone supports pets for the homeless, that you, or someone you love, could be the next victim of a costly or fatal attack by a dog that should be secured safely inside someone’s yard or home.
(Phyllis M. Daugherty is a former Los Angeles City employee and a long-time animal welfare advocate. A contributor to CityWatchLA, she is known for her investigative reporting on animal shelter operations, misuse of public funds, and the dangers of poorly regulated pet adoption policies. She is a strong proponent of public safety in animal control, advocating for stricter oversight of aggressive dog breeds, especially pit bulls, and for breed-specific legislation.)
