Police tell TMZ that the victim of the dog attack at Ving Rhames' home could have had a heart attack, since none of the wounds -- on his arms and legs only -- appear to have been life threatening. They speculate that he was possibly running for his life after a confrontation with the dogs. TMZ has learned the 40-year-old caretaker lived at the house and had been an employee of the actor for two years. Tragically, police say the man fed and cared for the animals on a daily basis.
A total of four dogs were taken away by Animal Control; three Mastiffs each weighing 160-190 lbs. and one English Bulldog weighing 100-150 lbs. The property contains two connected houses, both owned by Rhames. According to police, the dogs -- including nine puppies -- all live in one house.
In a press conference today, a police spokesman said the victim appears to have jumped the fence to try to get away from the dogs, and died sometime early this morning. We're told there are additional dogs on property, but they do not roam free. The dogs that attacked had access to the front of the house.
Cops say the dogs are very friendly, and as we reported, police are not aware of any previous problems. They do not anticipate charging Rhames with a crime, as this appears to have been a "pure accident." The animals have been quarantined and will be held over the weekend at an undisclosed shelter. Blood samples will be taken to determine if they have rabies or other dangerous diseases.
We're told Ving is on location out of country.
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Having a heart attack running for your life and wounds is different somehow???
WTF
If he had been caring for these dogs for two years, then the dogs were used to him. Something must have happened to cause them to bite him repeatedly -- even after death.
The dogs are getting revenge, they saw what Michael Vick did.
The dogs were probably playing with him and he got scared......when he started running the dogs probably thought that he wanted them to chase him. I feel sorry for the family of the man, but these dogs did nothing wrong.
Without any witnesses as to what ALL happened it is too soon to condemn the dogs. Nobody seems to know what happened.
Most dogs are very smart loving animals who can sense things beyond our human possibilites. Most likely they sensed he was going to have a heart attack, and they came at him (which dogs do to other dogs when there is something wrong). He ran, and they mauled him. I bet he would have died from a heart attack even if those dogs were not even there.
#4 what the hell are you talking about? Where are you getting your information? That is the dumbest thing i have heard all day. Thanks it made me laugh.
First of all what a terrible tradgedy for everyone involved.
Second
Bella has no clue! They wern't pitbulls, and second English Bulldogs have one of the lowest biting rates amoung all dogs. The average bulldog is around 65 pounds, it seems highly over axaggerated that it weighs 150 pounds.
See I told all of you that! Everyone was so quick to blame the dogs and Ving saying he's just like Vick! This breed is not a vicious breed! This man lived with these dogs for two years, there is no way they killed this man. Something had to of been wrong, but it is not the dogs fault and certainly not Ving's fault. Like I said before, everyone was so quick to judge because you heard a story about a black man and a dog attack....shameful!
Sad. So many animal attacks lately. I hope they get to the bottom of what really happened.
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my dog (jack russell mix) will "bite" at our hands if my husband or i are playing with her and then stop and lay on the floor. the dogs might have thought he was playing and when they got no response may have bitten harder to try and get him to move. if the dogs were dangerous-does everyone really think they'd go back in the house and hang out when they could be free???? I say accident.
So I agree with #4. anyway this is just a sad sad ACCIDENT.
The dogs very well may have been biting at him to get him to move if he had collapsed. They also may have been attempting to drag him back to the house if he wasn't moving. Speculating that he was running for his life and THEN suffered a heart attack is simply that--speculation.
