In a tragic incident in Boston, a 73-year-old woman was fatally attacked by her own pit bull at her residence.
The victim, Jeriline Brady-McGinnis from Massachusetts, was killed on the afternoon of Monday, November 18, following a brutal attack by her pit bull named Buddha at around 4:30 pm.
The assault, which took place outside the home, also resulted in non-life-threatening injuries to her husband and two police officers who were on the scene. They had attempted to intervene and protect Jeriline from the dog. The dog, Buddha, was subsequently shot and euthanized by Boston Animal Control officials.
In the wake of the attack, friends and family of Jeriline have shared their memories of the 73-year-old.
Jean McGuire, a friend and landlord, told WBZ: “She got attacked some way and they ripped her arm,” noting that Jeriline passed away during surgery.
McGuire added, “She’s very close to her animals, almost like children, I think. She took good care of them. She walked them every day.”
“I lost my sister. She’s a sister. She’s a wonderful person, very generous, very loving person, loved animals,” McGuire expressed.
Jeriline’s children, Chris, Ronald, and Donald, stated: “Our mother was a loving and caring mother. She put her children first… The heart and soul of our family is gone.”
The Boston Police homicide unit has launched an investigation into the incident due to the severity of the injuries, as reported by CBS News.
McGuire also mentioned to the media that there were ‘too many dogs’ and they were kept in cages.
She advised, “Don’t put your dog in a cage. You’ve got to keep them from fighting or whatever,” but also remarked, “you stay out of people’s business.”
WBZ reported that neighbors were also fearful of the dogs, noting their loud and frequent barking.
Earlier this year, a young boy heroically saved his younger sister from a pit bull attack.
In late June, Rebecca Chitwood, the children’s mother, recounted an incident where a pit bull escaped a neighbor’s yard and entered the yard where her daughter Lillian was playing.
Her brother Nicholas acted swiftly, kicking the dog and rescuing his sister Lillian, keeping her safe after the dog had bitten her face and neck.
The six-year-old girl suffered significant nerve damage from the attack and may require further medical treatment.
Their mother expressed to WNEM: “When I got the call, I just dropped everything and sped all the way to the hospital.”
She explained that she was informed over the phone about the dog attack on her daughter, but not the full extent of her injuries.
“To me, that could mean anything. It could be a couple of puncture wounds, it could be what she’s experiencing now, it could’ve been even worse,” she said.
Nicholas, reflecting on his actions during the attack, told WNEM, “I didn’t want her to die.”