HOUSTON – A three-year-old boy is recovering from serious facial injuries after being attacked by a neighbor’s dog in northeast Harris County’s Edgewood Village neighborhood.
Santiago Capetillo suffered fractured facial bones, lost two front teeth, and sustained injuries to his eye and eyelids in the attack that occurred on Nov. 18, just before Thanksgiving.
Santiago Capetillo was attacked by the neighbor’s dog that lunged through the front door on November 18, 2025. (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)
The incident happened when his mother, Valeria Capetillo, opened their front door after spotting what appeared to be a lost dog.
“It just happened so fast,” Valeria Capetillo said. “I tried to put my leg so he could bite me instead, but he just went after him.”
The child’s father, Alex Capetillo, intervened to save his son.
“My first instinct was get the dog off of my son,” he said.
Capetillo managed to subdue the animal by choking it until it released his son. He then took the dog outside.
Video from their doorbell camera showed the dog hanging around the family’s front door for afterward, with even an Amazon delivery driver showing concern about the animal’s presence.
Harris County Pets investigators are involved in the case.
In statement to KPRC 2’s Gage Goulding, a spokesperson shared that they’re working with the dog’s owner, but it was a slow start.
“The owner brought the dog to the Harris County Pets Resource Center (operated by VPH) for an initial evaluation on Nov. 20 but was recently issued citations for not completing the required 10-day quarantine at a private veterinary clinic,” the spokesperson wrote in an email.
“I have to carry my gun in my hand walking to the car because I’m scared that the dog might come out,” Alex Capetillo said.
The concern remained for the Capetillo family. That is, until Tuesday. Harris County Pets issued a revised statement to KPRC 2 saying the dog has been seized by animal control officers.
“Yes, the shelter just confirmed that the dog was seized this afternoon on a warrant issued by the Justice of the Peace. The dog is now in our custody. That is all the information we have at this time,” a spokesperson wrote.
The dog’s owner, identified as Jermaine, doesn’t think his dog is the one who attacked Santiago.
Gage Goulding: “The dog in the picture. Is that your dog?”
Jermaine: “Yes, it’s my dog.”
Gage Goulding: “You would testify in court, right hand up to God, that your dog did not attack this kid.”
Jermaine: “I wasn’t… I’m a truck driver. I was on the road. I don’t know what really took place. It’s just… it’s [an] allegation. You know what I mean?”
While there is no automatic requirement for the dog to be euthanized, the Capetillo family can try having the animal declared “dangerous” by the county.
Such a designation would require the owner to carry insurance, post warning signs, and have the dog wear a special warning collar, among other items outlined by the county.
If the dog were to attack again after being designated as dangerous, it could be permanently removed from the owner’s custody.
“How do they guarantee us any certainty that it’s not going to happen again?” Alex Capetillo questioned.
Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.