A dog attacked and killed its owner Friday in Castaic, authorities said.
The owner of the dog has been identified as Robert Stevens, 62. He was attacked on Gelding Road around 4:45 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Stevens was pronounced dead at the scene.
The dog, a Cane Corso, was taken away by animal control and will likely be euthanized. He was saved about five years ago.
Cane Corsos is an Italian mastiff breed. They are known as “bodyguard dogs”, with the breed’s lineage dating back to Roman times. “The breed’s name roughly translates from Latin as ‘bodyguard dog,'” according to the American Kennel Club. The breed is fiercely loyal, but can be willful to an unwitting owner. They typically weigh over 100 pounds and stand 28 inches at the shoulder.
The attack was unprovoked and ruled an accidental death, according to LASD.