Authorities identify man whose body was found being gnawed on by dogs

A Mendocino County man whose body was discovered Friday as it was being gnawed by dogs has been identified as Pedro Tepale, 51, of Calpella.

Tepale owned the two dogs - a pit bull and a rottweiler - that apparently had chewed his body, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.

Tepale had last been seen Thursday night at his trailer, located a short distance from where the grisly discovery was made, sheriff's officials said.

Sheriff's Capt. Greg Van Patten said Tepale lived alone.

A cause of death has not yet been determined, but officials said they don't believe the dogs killed Tepale.

A passerby Friday morning reported the body, with two dogs standing over it, alongside a road in Calpella, located north of Ukiah.

An animal control officer who arrived at the scene yelled at the dogs to get their attention, prompting the rottweiler to charge the officer, sheriff's officials said.

The officer shot the rottweiler, killing it. The pit bull fled but was turned in to the animal control shelter later that day, officials said.

Van Patten said he does not know whether the pit bull will be euthanized.