Max de los Santos, 76, endured a horrific dog attack this summer that has since transformed his life and that of his family in the most tragic ways. After a pair of dogs, a pit bull and a German Shepherd owned by neighbor Danielle Henderson, mauled him on his property, leading to the amputation of both his legs. The San Antonio community is now witnessing his painstaking recovery journey as he undergoes physical therapy at 77 years old, a story unfolded through the persistent coverage by FOX San Antonio. Beatrice de los Santos, his wife, emotionally expressed her gratitude: "I’m so grateful for all the prayers for all the words of encouragement for all the moral support that we have received since the very beginning, it’s been the hardest and it continues to be hard road ahead but they’re support is huge to my husband’s recovery."
Unanswered calls to Animal Care Services escalated to tragedy as two days later, the vicious attack was carried out, which may have cost de los Santos his life if not for the intervention of a neighbor wielding a metal baton—the dreadful incident occurring just a month before Max's 77th birthday; life since has been an uphill battle for Max and his family, grappling with medical bills reaching seven figures, and facing the additional challenge of renovating their home for wheelchair accessibility, including the replacement of beds to accommodate hospital equipment, "We’ve had to get rid of the king size bed to accommodate a hospital bed so my bed will go to a twin size bed the administrative issues of getting a new bed sometimes turns into a nightmare," Beatrice told FOX San Antonio.
Meanwhile, the owner of the dogs, Danielle Henderson, has been arrested and charged with a third-degree felony for serious bodily injury following the devastating event, with potential consequences ranging from two to ten years in jail and fines up to $10,000 if convicted. Beatrice expressed a solemn sentiment on the matter, acknowledging that no legal action could compensate for the pain and loss her husband and family have endured. "I hope that whatever legal repercussions are associated with this level of crime she receives, it will be nothing compared to the experience that my husband and my family will undergo and have undergone,” she explained in a statement obtained by FOX San Antonio.
On the fateful day of the attack, off-field responses by Animal Control Services (ACS) coincided with their request for increased city funding, illustrating a dire need for more resources—including additional animal control officers revealed in an unrelated city council meeting on the same day as the attack. ACS pleaded for a 26% budget increase with the desire of improving call response, according to News 4 San Antonio. Rudolfo Pantoja, the neighbor who intervened during the attack, described the harrowing scene: "I heard Mr. Max, he was yelling help, help somebody help me ...the German Shepherd had him by the neck, and the American Staffordshire Terrier had him by the leg, and they’re dragging him from in between the houses," he recounted in an interview with News 4 San Antonio. The community continues to support the de los Santos family as they navigate the aftermath of a moment that has irrevocably altered the fabric of their lives.
