Indiana Grandmother Mauled To Death By Pit Bull After Falling From Chair

A 69-year-old Indiana grandmother was killed by a pit bull that attacked her when she fell from a chair while cradling her 3-year-old granddaughter.

Officers from the Grant County Sheriff's Department were called to a home in the Grant County town of Matthews on Monday on reports of a dog attack. At the scene, first responders found Kathleen Bertram bleeding from both sides of her neck. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bertram’s daughter, Leta Webb, told the police that she and her mother were in the living room. While holding her granddaughter, Bertram sat down in an uneven chair and then fell on the floor, according to Associated Press.

After the fall the child began to cry. The family’s pit bull pet, alerted by the child’s cry, ran into the living room and attacked Bertram. The dog bit Bertram on her neck while she was lying on the floor, said police.

Webb then yelled for her husband and brother to come help Bertram.

Medics and deputies began administering CPR on Bertram shortly after arriving at the scene, according to WTHR. Due to the severity of Bertram’s injuries, she could not be saved, said Grant County Coroner Stephen Dorsey.

The pit bull continued to show signs of aggression after the attack. Officials from the Marion Animal Control, who responded to the scene used a tranquilizer to sedate the pit bull. It was then removed from the home.

According to the non-profit American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), aggression among dogs is common and can also stem from their protective instinct. "Dogs may show aggressive behavior when they think that one of their family members or friends is in peril," said the institution in a statement. ASPCA believes the key to preventing aggressive tendencies among pit bulls is proper socialization, humane training and conscientious supervision. However, they cautioned dog owners that even with proper socialization, a dog can still turn violent.

Last week, a 7-month old baby was mauled to death by the family's dog. The infant’s mother, who left the baby with the grandmother, said the dog had previously shown aggression towards the baby.