A family dog attacked a 62-year-old woman, leaving her dead in a dog pen, Alabama authorities said.
The evening of July 11, the woman’s husband asked a family member to check on his wife because he couldn’t get in touch with her, according to the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
When the husband spoke to his wife earlier, she told him she was going to feed their dog, Cpt. Marty Sellers with the sheriff’s office said in a news conference broadcast by WBRC.
But he tried to call her later, and she didn’t answer, so he contacted the relative, Sellers said in a news release.
When the family member arrived at the home shortly before 9:30 p.m., he found the woman dead in the dog pen, according to investigators.
Then the relative entered the pen but the dog attacked him as well, forcing him to kill it, deputies said. He didn’t sustain serious injuries, according to Sellers.
Sellers said the dog appeared to be a Bullmastiff, and the family had no prior problems with the pet.
Deputies are not identifying the woman for the sake of the family’s privacy.
Tuscaloosa County is about a 65-mile drive southwest from Birmingham.
What to know about dog attacks
“Dog bites can cause pain, injury, and spread germs that cause infection,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. “Nearly 1 in 5 people bitten by a dog requires medical attention.”
Dogs bite more than 4.5 million people each year in the U.S., and nearly 800,000 of those people need medical attention, according to the CDC.
Any dog can bite if they feel scared or nervous, or if they want to be alone. You should never approach a dog that seems angry or scared, the CDC said.
If an unfamiliar dog comes up to you, officials say you should:
- Stay calm and be still.
- Avoid eye contact with the dog.
- Don’t panic or make loud noises. Don’t run.
- Say “no” or “go home” in a deep voice. Stand with the side of your body toward the dog.
- Slowly raise your hands to your neck and back away slowly.
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