A woman has died after being attacked by her own dog at her home in Durham, North Carolina. The incident occurred late Thursday night when she tripped and fell, prompting the pet to maul her.
Police were called to the Craftsman-style property, valued at $200,000, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Her identity has not yet been released, and the cause of death remains under investigation.
Neighbours reported seeing the victim removed from the home on a stretcher. She is believed to have lived with several other women, all of whom kept various pets. Animal control officers removed the dog and placed it under a ten-day bite confinement to monitor for rabies or other viruses.
Authorities have not disclosed the dog's breed or age, nor whether it had received training. Locals described the animal as 'never aggressive' and expressed shock at the attack. One neighbour said: 'It's scary because that can happen to anyone. But I have dogs myself, and that's why I'm scared to get a big dog.'
Another neighbour mourned the loss of a 'generous' community member: 'It's a loss to the community, they were just a really nice person and so quick to help and get people the resources that they need.' No other injuries were reported.
