US boy, 16, mauled to death by three dogs in backyard

A teenage boy has died after he was mauled by three pit bulls.

Police were called to the backyard of a home in Irving, Texas on Saturday about 4.45am (local time) and found the dogs attacking a 16-year-old.

The officers jumped the fence, and got between the boy and the dog but it didn’t deter the canines from continuing their attack.

The dogs were shot and the teen was rushed to hospital with critical injuries.

He died later on Saturday night.

All three were taken to an animal shelter.

One of the dogs was also euthanised due to the severity of its injuries.

The boy did not live at the residence where he was attacked, police said.

Guillermo Lorenzo, who owns the dogs, told Fox 4 the teen was homeless.

“He told me he’s homeless and I wanted to help him out, actually,” he told Fox 4.

The investigation is ongoing.