Texas Woman Found Dead In Her Backyard Possibly Killed By Her Own Dogs: Police

A woman who was found dead in the backyard of her Texas home was possibly killed by her own dogs, police have said.

Cops responded to the woman's house in the 12400 block of Rockhampton Drive in southwest Houston Friday after receiving reports about a possible dead person on the property. Upon arrival, police found the body of Tiffany Frangione, 48, in the backyard with "puncture wounds to her neck," reported KHOU-TV.

Investigators said they learned Frangione let her two dogs out in her backyard when they started fighting with the neighbor's dogs through the fence. They believe her own dogs attacked her when she tried to intervene.

"This makes me very sad happening to anyone — and somebody in our own neighborhood, that's even worse," Kelia Ballou, a neighbor, told the outlet.

The official cause of her death remains pending as authorities await the autopsy report, according to The Sacramento Bee.

As for the dogs that are linked to the suspected attack, an Alaskan husky mix and a Cane Corso mix, both female, they were initially turned over to The City of Houston's BARC Animal Shelter. They were then placed under the care of Frangione's husband Friday and were scheduled to be euthanized Monday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 16 fatal dog attacks take place every year. To avoid such incidents, the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants has given a few instructions that people can follow at the sight of an aggressive canine, including using a citronella spray to keep the dog at bay.

In 2016, a Colorado woman was killed while her son was injured after a pair of pit bulls attacked them in their home. The victim, identified as Susan Shawl, 60, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her son, Richard Shawl, in his 30s, sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Susan was apparently issued a warning over her dogs' aggressive behavior eight years prior to the deadly attack. The said warning was reportedly prompted by a complaint from a neighbor.