San Francisco Woman Says She Thought She Would Die During Brutal Pit Bull Mauling

San Francisco, California — A woman who survived a brutal pit bull attack in San Francisco says she never expected the dog to turn on her after she agreed to watch it for a man she barely knew. Amber King was left with devastating injuries after the animal broke loose in the city’s Tenderloin neighborhood and attacked her for as long as 15 minutes.

King said she had agreed to help the man because he was moving and needed assistance. She tied the dog to a post, but at some point, the animal managed to get loose.

“The guy was moving and he needed help. Me, I’m a helper. So I just happened to help, and I had the dog tied up. How? The dog got loose. I don’t know,” King told ABC7.

What happened next left her fighting desperately for her life.

Dog Attacked King After Breaking Loose

Police were called at approximately 9:20 a.m. to Larkin Street between Eddy and Turk streets after reports of the attack. Officers arrived to find King severely bleeding while the blood-covered dog remained nearby.

According to King, the animal knocked her to the ground and pinned her down before repeatedly biting her. She said she used her arms to protect herself as the attack continued.

“I was going to die. If I didn’t fight, I was going to die. I kept hearing the crunching sound of the dog biting me,” she said.

Video from the scene captured a bystander attempting to keep the animal away from King. An officer eventually managed to restrain the dog using a catch pole.

The pit bull later collapsed and died at the scene before San Francisco Animal Care & Control arrived.

King Suffered Devastating Injuries

King was taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, where she remained for about a week.

She underwent multiple surgeries to treat the extensive injuries caused by the attack.

Nearly two weeks later, King said the damage to her left hand remained severe, while she had started to regain some movement in the fingers of her right hand.

“My left hand is completely damaged. Every nerve, every bone,” King said.

Even small movements have become a difficult part of her recovery.

King described moving her fingers as “baby steps,” explaining that basic movement remains challenging as she works to regain function.

The physical injuries have also been accompanied by emotional trauma.

Nightmares Continue After the Attack

King, who is homeless, said she continues to relive the attack and has struggled to sleep because of recurring nightmares.

Despite the trauma, she expressed gratitude toward a bystander named Ashley, who she said helped her while the dog was attacking.

The two women have since spoken by phone.

“Thank God for that Ashley lady,” King said. “Whoever she is, I’d like to give her an extra thank you for coming and acknowledging what I was going through.”

For King, that intervention became one of the few bright moments in an otherwise terrifying encounter.

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Investigators Still Have Questions About the Dog

Authorities have previously said investigators were examining whether an underlying medical condition or exposure to a foreign substance could have contributed to the dog’s sudden violent behavior and eventual death.

So far, no definitive cause has been determined.

The circumstances surrounding the animal’s behavior remain part of the investigation, while questions also remain about the person who owned the dog.

King said she wants the owner to come forward.

“I’m so glad to be here. Glad to be here,” King said.

Her statement reflects the severity of what happened and the fact that she survived an attack she believed could have ended her life.

Owner Has Not Been Held Accountable

San Francisco police have said that no one has been held accountable for the attack.

It also remains unclear whether investigators have identified the dog’s owner or determined exactly how the animal came to be under King’s care that morning.

For now, King is focused on recovering from injuries that could affect her for years.

Her left hand remains severely damaged, and she is only beginning to regain movement in her right hand. At the same time, she continues dealing with the emotional aftermath of an attack that she says she will never forget.

What do you think about King’s account of what happened? Share your thoughts in the comments and send your support to her as she continues her difficult recovery.