Pet Dogs Chew Woman's Arm, Severely Injure Officer During Horrific Attack

Two dogs were shot dead by police in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, on Wednesday after the animals brutally attacked a woman. The victim was taken to a hospital and underwent surgery.

According to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office, deputies arrived at the scene after receiving calls about a woman being attacked outside her residence in the 900 block of Stonewall Lane. The attack on the woman was over by the time officers arrived. Sheriff Capt. C.A. Carey said one of the deputies was bitten by the dogs at the scene, causing "significant injury" to his upper leg area. It was only after the dogs turned on the deputies that the animals were shot.

An eyewitness, identified as Dannie Canter, said he was on his way home when he heard a woman, believed to be in her mid-twenties, screaming and saw a dog mauling her.

“I noticed her arm was really chewed up and bleeding really bad, the dog was on her leg and he was shaking the leg, tearing it up,” Canter said. “In my opinion, it looked like she had been attacked by sharks, it was so bad looking.”

Canter said the dogs never attacked him and he was lucky to not be hurt.

The large dogs were described as Cane Corsos, or Italian mastiffs. It is believed that the animals lived at the same residence as the woman. However, it remains unclear what caused them to attack the woman.

The sheriff's deputy was treated and released from the hospital. An investigation was underway into the incident.