Utah Woman, 63, Has Leg Amputated After Attack by Son's Pit Bulls in Her Yard

The dogs "also aggressively confronted paramedics and police," say authorities

A Utah woman had to have her leg amputated after she was attacked by her son's pit bulls in her own yard, police say, according to KSL, KUTV and ABC4.

At 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 31, Taylorsville police received a call from the 63-year-old woman, who stated that she was actively being bitten and seriously injured by a group of dogs at her home, per KUTV.

"The woman also reported that the family of pit bulls, including the mother and father dogs and five puppies, were still in the backyard with her. She was able to call 911 on a mobile phone she had with her," police said in a statement, per KSL.

As authorities arrived at the scene, they observed through a neighbor's fence that the woman was still being attacked by the dogs. When they approached her property, the dogs turned their aggression towards police and paramedics, say police.

"The dogs also aggressively confronted paramedics and police, who deployed pepper spray to drive them away so they could jump the fence," police said, per KSL. "From there, they were able to get the dogs away from the woman, containing them in a group along the opposite fence."

After the attack, the woman was taken to the hospital with "extensive injuries" to her legs, hands and face, per KUTV. Those injuries resulted in her left leg being amputated. Her son was also made to surrender his dogs to West Valley City Animal Services.

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However, the city released a statement explaining that when police attempted to secure the female adult pit bull, she "broke loose, endangering both Taylorsville police and animal control officers on scene (and) was fatally shot by police," according to KSL.

“This is a tragic situation involving a mother and her son’s dogs in the backyard of their home,” Police Chief Brady Cottam said in a statement, per FOX13. “Our hearts are heavy following this incident, and we are grateful the victim was able to call 911 for help as quickly as she did — even as the attack was happening. It likely did save her life.”

PEOPLE reached out to the Taylorsville Police Department for comment, but the department did not immediately respond.

According to the Taylorsville government website, homeowners are allowed to own no more than two dogs at a time.

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