Iowa Woman Loses Legs and Needs Facial Reconstruction Surgery After Being Mauled by 3 Pit Bulls

Kirsty Hatcher
·2 min read
1

A GoFundMe set up for the woman said she also has "serious head trauma" following the Nov. 24 attack

<p>Getty</p> An Iowa woman has had her legs amputated and needs facial reconstruction surgery after being attacked by three dogs

Getty

An Iowa woman has had her legs amputated and needs facial reconstruction surgery after being attacked by three dogs

An Iowa mother has had her legs amputated and needs facial reconstruction surgery after being attacked by three pit bulls.

Fort Dodge Police said an officer arrived on the scene of the incident on Nov. 24 after receiving a call about someone yelling for help.

The officer tried to scare the dogs away to stop them attacking the woman, but was unsuccessful.

"The officer on scene then drew his duty weapon and shot all three dogs multiple times to stop the attack," a press release read. “All three dogs are deceased."

Authorities said the woman was transported to Unity Point Trinity Regional Medical Center by ambulance for her “serious injuries,” before being flown to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

<p>Getty</p> The three dogs were shot dead by a Fort Dodge Police Department officer

Getty

The three dogs were shot dead by a Fort Dodge Police Department officer

A GoFundMe page has been set up for the woman by her aunt, Teresa Hanus.

According to the GoFundMe, an update shared Saturday read that the woman "has lost a lot more than we originally thought. She's had many surgeries and procedures in the last few days."

"She has had both legs amputated to her knees. [She] did not need surgery on her hands as we had originally thought. However she is going to need facial reconstruction surgery, she also has serious head trauma and much more."

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Per the police, an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

A neighbor told local media outlet KCCI that it took "quite a few rounds of ammunition to get them [the dogs] down."

Another added, "I had heard the gunshots. I came outside originally and I saw police with his gun drawn. He had said for me to go inside and I did, I did go inside, but after a couple of moments, my curiosity is piqued. Let's go ahead and step out here. I stepped out into the driveway just to take a peek, I saw a black dog lying down on the ground, deceased, which is super sad."

A spokesperson for the Fort Dodge Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

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