LAUDERHILL, Fla. – A woman was rushed to a hospital Monday afternoon after she was attacked by at least one of her dogs, police said.
The incident was reported in the 4100 block of Northwest 21st Street.
Lauderhill Fire Rescue officials said the woman was taken to Broward Health Medical Center in critical condition after she was attacked by three pit bulls. However, Lauderhill police Maj. Rick Rocco said the breed of dog is unconfirmed.
Rocco said the woman was visiting from out of state and brought her three dogs with her. She was alone in her nephew's apartment when he came home to find the dog attacking her.
He called police, and officers arrived to help.
"They found the dog actually attacking this woman inside of her apartment, attacking her arms," Rocco said. "The officer tried to use pepper spray to stop the attack. That didn't work, and the officer had to discharge her firearm at the dog."
Neighbors said the woman had been staying in South Florida for several months and could often be seen walking her dogs through the neighborhood.
"I didn't think they would be aggressive because they looked like to me they (were) kind of shy," neighbor James Leach said.
Witnesses said the woman's injuries were very serious. Leach said she looked like she couldn't use both of her arms.
The woman was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was undergoing surgery. Her identity wasn't immediately released.
Rocco said two dogs inside the apartment appear to be docile, and the dog that was shot couldn't be seen from the apartment window. Police waited for animal control officers to arrive before removing the dogs from the apartment.
It wasn't immediately known what led to the attack.