An elderly woman from Illinois was mauled to death by her pet pit bull, in what police described as a ‘horrific scene’ on Monday.
According to a press release from the Alsip Police Department, officers were dispatched to the 11600 block of South Komensky Avenue just after 3.30pm after receiving a report about a dog mauling.
When police arrived on the scene and went into the backyard of the residence, they came upon the lifeless body of 77-year-old Dorothy Ford, as Chicago Tribune reported.
Deadly attack: Dorothy Ford, 77, was found dead in her Alsip, Illinois, backyard after being mauled by her pet pit bull on Monday
Put down: Officers had to shoot the dog, killing it, because it was still acting aggressively
According to a report by WGN-TV, a young man who was out walking his dog that afternoon witnessed the pit bull attack and summoned police.
The dog that had inflicted the mortal injuries on the victim, described as a six-year-old pit bull, was still aggressive and had to be shot dead on the spot, according to police.
‘It was pretty horrific,’ Alsip Deputy Police Chief Shawn Schuldt told Alsip Patch. ‘If I go through the rest of my career without seeing something like this, that would be a good thing. I feel extremely bad for the family and we offer them our condolences.’
The press release from the department characterized the animal as a pet that lived in the household.
Schuldt told the paper the canine was well fed and cared for, and showed no signs of maltreatment or abuse. Local police have not had any prior complaints about the pit bull acting aggressively towards neighbors, or other pets.
According to social media posts, Ford was retired. She is survived by her two grown sons and a daughter, and four grandchildren.
Beloved pet: The canine was well fed and cared for, and showed no signs of maltreatment or abuse