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A 69-year-old woman was mauled to death by a group of dogs in Florida.
Holmes County resident Shirley Johnson was found dead on Sunday in Gritney, Florida. A medical examiner ruled that she had been bitten over 100 times.
Sheriff John Tate told WJHG that Johnson was walking home from her son's house on Saturday evening when she was attacked by three dogs.
She was reportedly found by a passerby around 24 hours later, with bite marks over her body.
The dogs that officials believe were responsible for the attack have been euthanized. The breed of the dogs has not been revealed. According to WJHG citing Tate, the owners were not charged because there is no hard evidence linking the dogs to the fatal attack.
Neighbors said the three dogs had a history of aggressive behavior.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 4.5 million people find themselves bitten by a dog each year. Over 800,000 people need medical attention for their bite injuries.
In July, a 70-year-old woman was fatally attacked by a pit bull in her own backyard in Long Island, New York, as reported by Newsweek.
"Officers entered the yard and attempted to render aid for a woman who was being viciously attacked by a dog," the Nassau County Police Department wrote in a press release. "Upon entry of the yard, a seven-year-old pit-bull aggressively charged the Police."
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said an officer fatally shot the dog, who belonged to the woman's stepson.
On August 9, an 89-year-old grandmother was mauled to death by another pit bull in Nevada. The dog was thought to belong to the victim's grandson, who told local media that there was "not a mean bone" in the dog's body and that he "loved grandma."
The American Veterinary Medical Association said most dog bites are preventable as long as owners follow several key steps, which include:
- Socializing your dog by introducing them to people and other animals when it is a puppy to help it feel more at ease when around them as it gets older.
- Use a leash in public to make sure that you are able to control your dog should it become aggressive.
- Be a responsible owner by taking your pet out for regular exercise, neutering or spaying it, choose a dog that is right for the family and ensure it gets proper training.
- Educate your children about how and whether to approach a dog.
- Avoid risky situations to know how to avoid escalating risky situations and to understand when you should not interact with a dog.
- Pay attention to a dog's body language and observe if it appears stressed, frightened, or threatened.
- And, never pet a dog when it is not with its owner, is sleeping or eating, is sick or injured, playing with a toy, is resting with their puppies.
