A 63-year-old Taylorsville woman was attacked by a group of dogs in her backyard, suffering injuries so severe one of her legs had to be amputated, police said.
The woman was behind her home near 4800 South and 2900 West on Tuesday afternoon when she was attacked by the pit bulls — an adult male, an adult female and five puppies — owned by her 38-year-old son, police said. While still under attack, she used her cellphone to call police at about 2:30 p.m.
When officers arrived, the woman was still surrounded by the dogs, which “aggressively confronted” first responders, police said. Officers used pepper spray on the animals before jumping the backyard fence to reach the woman, police said.
She was taken to Intermountain Medical Center in critical condition with “extensive injuries” to her legs, hands and face. One of her legs had to be amputated, police said.
After the woman was taken away in an ambulance, police and animal control officers tried to capture the adult dogs. That’s when the female “broke loose,” police said, and was fatally shot by officers.
The adult male and five puppies were captured by animal control officers. The woman’s son, who lives with his mother, surrendered the dogs to West Valley City Animal Services. (Taylorsville contracts with West Valley City for animal services.)
The attack remains under investigation.
