90-year-old Woman Fatally Mauled by a Pit Bull

[hoops5]

Tragic to witness this I'm sure.

 

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (WAVY/CNN) - Family and neighbors are mourning the death of a 90-year-old woman fatally mauled by a pit bull.

The dog had just been adopted by the woman's daughter.

There's still blood inside a home on Bunker Hill Lane.

According to the victim's daughter, Linda, whose last name was not given, the family pet couldn't be stopped during a five-minute attack.

Neighbors say they're horrified.

"I can't believe it happened. I am still in shock," Lydia Walther said.

Police say they got called to the home around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Medics rushed the woman to the hospital with serious injuries.

"She's outside all the time with her elderly dog. We bring her tomatoes. It's just really sad," Sondra Smith said.

Linda says she was in the backyard with her dog, Blue, when her mom screamed for help after falling in the bedroom.

As Linda came inside, she says the dog rushed ahead and straddled her mom's back on the floor, biting her neck and shoulders and later her legs and stomach.

Walther said she tried hitting the dog with a hammer, but he didn't stop.

Hours earlier, an adoption service dropped the dog off at the home after Linda purchased it on Craigslist for $20.

"If she got killed by an animal, it just makes me feel that it could happen to any of the kids around the house. We do have dogs ourselves," Walther said.

Linda says her mom underwent surgery overnight, including an arm amputation, but died early Thursday morning.

"I feel for her. I feel for her family. My heart goes out to them. We are praying for them, hoping they can overcome something like this," Walther said.

The dog is currently in quarantine and may be put down.

The victim's daughter adopted the dog from Forever Home Rehabilitation Center.

In a statement, the center says the dog never showed any aggression while training, and passed his final evaluation before being adopted.

Family pet fatally mauls 9

[Jumper_Dad]

Sickening to read.

[nkuclubbaseball19]

Absolutely terrible to hear.

 

And no I'm not blaming the owners but if you just got the dog from Craigslist and know nothing about it, you should have the dog on a leash to control at all times until you get to know the dog. I recommend that to every adopter whether they get a pit bull or a yorkie. Who knows if it would've prevented the attack but it's a completely new situation for the dog and any dog is typically on edge.

[hoops5]

One human could not stop the beast from killing another human. This is on the dog. And they are thinking of putting the dog down?

[BigVMan23]

Pit bull breeds are like loaded guns...that can shoot on their own.

[Wireman]

I'm trying to think of a reason why anyone would own a pit bull.

[TAC]

Absolutely terrible to hear.

 

And no I'm not blaming the owners but if you just got the dog from Craigslist and know nothing about it, you should have the dog on a leash to control at all times until you get to know the dog. I recommend that to every adopter whether they get a pit bull or a yorkie. Who knows if it would've prevented the attack but it's a completely new situation for the dog and any dog is typically on edge.

 

Not blaming the owners yet you pointed out a few mistakes they made. Buying on Craig's list, not having it on a leash, not knowing anything about the dog.

[TAC]

@rjs4470 Make that 23 dead people.

[True blue (and gold)]

I'm trying to think of a reason why anyone would own a pit bull.

Because there are hundreds of thousands of them that never harm a soul.

[rjs4470]

@rjs4470 Make that 23 dead people.

 

Actually it's about 12 or 13 so far for this year that have been killed by dogs.

 

2

[Wireman]

Because there are hundreds of thousands of them that never harm a soul.

 

Feels like an awfully big chance to take...especially with kids.

[True blue (and gold)]

Feels like an awfully big chance to take...especially with kids.

That's why it is great when every person gets to make their own choices on which dog to have or whether to have one at all. It's called freedom of choice.

[Wireman]

That's why it is great when every person gets to make their own choices on which dog to have or whether to have one at all. It's called freedom of choice.

 

Oh I'm not faulting you or anyone else for anything. You can do as you please. I'm saying I won't be taking any chances like that.

[True blue (and gold)]

I'm trying to think of a reason why anyone would own a pit bull.

 

Oh I'm not faulting you or anyone else for anything. You can do as you please. I'm saying I won't be taking any chances like that.

I'm answering you original question, which wasn't about your choice, but "anyone's."

[TAC]

That's why it is great when every person gets to make their own choices on which dog to have or whether to have one at all. It's called freedom of choice.

So if you choose to have a potentially violent dog and it hurts someone, should you be to blame or the dog?