A senior woman was mauled by two dogs in the Coachella Valley, resulting in injuries so grave that she had to undergo amputation of part of her arm, as reported by the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.
On Saturday morning in the Desert Hot Springs area, a 76-year-old woman was attacked by dogs that have since been “humanely euthanized.”
A woman from Sinaloa, Mexico, was in Riverside County to visit family and was out for a morning workout, according to officials.
At approximately 8:30 a.m., an incident occurred near the intersection of Thomas Avenue and Kay Road involving two pit bull mixes that had managed to escape their owner’s yard by slipping under the fence.
A woman suffered severe injuries after being attacked by dogs, resulting in significant damage to her arms and legs. The wounds on her right arm were so critical that medical professionals had to amputate part of it.
The woman continues to be hospitalized in serious condition as of Monday.
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“This victim was enjoying some holiday time with her family … then this horrific incident occurred,” said Animal Services Interim Director Kim Youngberg.
Two dogs, a 1-year-old male pit bull mix and a 4-year-old female pit bull mix, were taken in and subsequently euthanized at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus. Officials reported that both dogs had not been spayed or neutered.
An animal control officer observed that the dog owner’s property featured a suitably sized 6-foot chain-link fence; however, the fence lacked sufficient depth in the ground, allowing the dogs to burrow through the soft desert sand.
Youngberg described the incident as a tragedy, emphasizing that it serves as a serious reminder of the essential responsibility dog owners have to ensure their yards are secure.