Chris Blake

Woman Dies After Attack by Her Own Dogs Outside Animal Hospital

The incident happened Saturday morning

A woman died from her injuries after her own two dogs mauled her outside an animal hospital in Irving Saturday morning, police say.

Police shot and killed the dogs when they arrived because the pets would not allow authorities to come close to the owner, police say.

Police said the dogs' owner was transported to Parkland Hospital in Dallas, where she later died.

The woman was identified by Irving police Saturday afternoon as 33-year-old Johana Natalie Villafane.

Irving police confirmed the dogs were both pit bulls.

The dogs were in quarantine at O'Connor Animal Hospital to be tested for rabies after they got loose and bit someone earlier in the week, according to the Irving Police Department.

The animal hospital allowed the woman to visit the dogs during the week while her pets were in quarantine, police said.

Police said animal hospital staff told them the dogs attacked the woman when she took them on a walk in an enclosed area behind the building. When someone noticed the woman injured and on the ground, police said the dogs would not allow anyone to go near the her.

The scenario repeated itself when Irving fire and police officials both arrived, which led to police shooting the dogs.

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