Danell Leyva believes two of his family’s three American bulldogs were put down after one of them bit Leyva three times about one month ago.
Leyva was in bed when he heard his mom screaming after the male dogs -- Pirata and Hercules -- spontaneously started fighting. The family has one other American bulldog, a female named Jade.
“I pulled one away, and as I was like holding him back, [Pirata] grabbed onto my leg,” Leyva said Thursday, ahead of the P&G Championships that start Friday in Hartford, Conn. “Then I was kind of like prying his mouth open with my hands, and he bit my fingers a little bit. I was kind of pushing him away. Then when I go to move away, he bit my same leg again, for a second time. A little harder and a little longer.”
Leyva, who was also bit in the face by Pirata in 2012, said the dogs fought for about an hour before animal control arrived.
By then Leyva had already left for the hospital. Leyva had his left leg wrapped with special gauze -- not stitches -- to cover a “big, deep, wide hole.”
Leyva believes the dogs were put down fairly quickly.
“One of the dogs, he was basically gone [before animal control arrived],” Leyva said. “They got there, and he was like laying down. I feel like the only reason why he was able to walk out was probably the adrenaline of the fight. But I’m sure that they put him down. My mom said that he was barely even breathing. The other one, he was still aggressive, so they probably put him down right away as well.”
Leyva said he’s been training for “quite a bit.” He saw a doctor on Tuesday and was told he healed in record time.
Julia Fincher contributed to this report from Hartford.
MORE: Ten gymnasts to watch at P&G Championships
At P&G's @DanellJLeyva getting prepped for a layout double double. And the bandage you won't believe! pic.twitter.com/mf5OBAcJ3c
— tim daggett (@timdaggettnbc) June 1, 2016
Yup @DanellJLeyva got bit again by the dogs. Here's a shot of his finger believe me U don't want me to post his leg! pic.twitter.com/BYU943q6tv
— tim daggett (@timdaggettnbc) June 1, 2016
