Dallas woman dies after attacked by dogs; city mulls policy changes

DALLAS - Dallas officials plan to revisit the city’s policies on loose dogs after a woman was mauled by a pack of loose dogs in a South Dallas neighborhood.

Six dogs viciously attacked Antoinette Brown and left her in a medically induced coma. Family members say the 52-year-old veteran died Monday afternoon.

Police said it happened in the early morning hours of May 2 in the 3300 block of Rutledge Street. Neighbors called to say a woman was screaming for help because she was being attacked.

First responders found Brown with more than 100 bites across her body, but there were no dogs.

Jackie Humphrey says she tried to get Dallas Animal Services to capture the same dogs one year ago after they killed her Chihuahua. She called 911 when she discovered Brown.

“One of her legs looked like a shark had taken a bite out of it,” said Humphrey.

Neighbors say the aggressive dogs would get out all the time through holes in this fence.

Mayor Mike Rawlings told reporters that Dallas Animal Services has to do a better job picking up stray dogs.

“The priority has not been high enough, obviously,” said the Dallas mayor. “Progress is great, but we were in a deep hole and we have a long ways to go”

Rawlings says when someone is hurt by an animal, the city’s animal services need to be contacted as soon as it happens – something that didn’t happen after Brown’s attack.

Police had told Humphrey to call 311 when she saw the loose dogs. When she did, she was told nobody would be out there for 72 hours.

“I said, ‘Evidently, y'all are not communicating or something,’” Humphrey said.

“Animal Services needs to pick them up,” said Rawlings. “This was put on their agenda to solve this this year. Obviously we haven't. "

The director of animal services laid out a plan to hire nine more employees eight months ago. Five of the positions had been empty for a year.

Humphrey believes Brown would not have been attacked if Dallas Animal Services had listened to the cries for help from her neighborhood last year.

“It seems like to me they don't care,” said Humphrey. “They really don't care."

Police believe they have identified the owner the loose dogs, but said the case is still under investigation. No charges have been filed.