Elderly Woman Mauled To Death By Her Own Pit Bull

An elderly Massachusetts woman was mauled to death by her dog, PEOPLE reports.

On Monday (November 18), Jeriline Brady-McGinnes, 73, and her husband were attacked by one of her dogs, who was reportedly a pit bull.

Police said the dog wasn't on the property when officers responded to the scene. While administering aid to Brady-McGinnes and her husband, officers said the dog returned and attacked them.

The dog was subsequently shot dead, Deputy Superintendent Paul McLaughlin said.

"Given what he had done to the two victims," McLaughlin said, "The officers made the decision to discharge and to put the dog down."

The couple was taken to hospital where Brady-McGinnis succumbed to her "life-threatening" injuries. Her husband sustained "very serious injuries." Two officers were also transported to a local hospital where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Brady-McGinnis' three children confirmed her death in a statement.

"Our mother was a loving and caring mother," the statement read. "The heart and soul of our family is gone."

According to the statement, the 73-year-old cooked dinner for her dog every night.

"She's very close to her animals, almost like children, I think. She took good care of them. She walked them every day," her friend, Jean McGuire, said. "She's a wonderful person, very generous, very loving person, loved animals."

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