Authorities in Texas say a woman is dead after an apparent attack by her two pet pit bulls, both of which were in a veterinary quarantine facility at the time in connection to reports that they attacked another person.
According to KSDK, the incident occurred late Saturday morning at an animal hospital in Irving.
Johana Villafane, 33, reportedly visited the facility and was attempting to feed the animals when they became aggressive. The male and female terriers’ attack was so vicious that staffers — who say they warned Villafane not to get too close to them — could not intervene.
Police arrived a short time later and opted to shoot and kill the animals. By that time, however, it was too late for their owner. She was rushed to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead.
“They were unable to retrieve her to give her any medical attention because of the animals,” reported Irving Police officer David Dickinson.
The officer said his colleague made the only decision he could when he fired on the two dogs.
“His job is to intervene to safeguard human life, and that’s what he attempted to do,” Dickinson said.
Neighbors recalled seeing animal control officers show up to Villafane’s home recently, but Rick Warner said he didn’t ask any questions at that time.
He said “lights were flashing the entire time” the law-enforcement vehicle was at the home of woman he said had recently moved to the neighborhood.
A Facebook fundraiser described the mother of two as “a cheerful, fun, kind, loving, loving person in love with her children.”
[Featured image: Johana Villafane, Facebook]
