Anaheim Man Dies After Being Bitten by Dog

An Anaheim man who was bitten on a finger by a neighbor’s dog March 9 died Tuesday at Anaheim Memorial Hospital, apparently from an infection following the dog bite.

“We have to run more tests to be sure, but from what we know at this time it appears that the dog bite caused his death,” said Deputy Coroner Rick Plows on Thursday.

Albert Schmidt, 65, a retiree who lived alone, reportedly had his hand on a fence at the area where the dog, an Australian dingo, was kept. The dog jumped up and bit him on a left-hand finger, which apparently became infected, Plows said.

Later Sought Treatment

Schmidt eventually went to the hospital after becoming increasingly ill.

The dog was destroyed Saturday.

County authorities had declared the dog vicious because it had a history of biting. Officials had ordered the dog either muzzled or kept in an enclosed area.

“Our understanding is that the dog was in an enclosed area, but Mr. Schmidt was either in the area or had his hand on its fence when the dog bit him,” Plows said.

The name of the dog’s owner was not released.

Dingos are used in Australia to round up cattle.