A 26-year-old mother of two has died after protecting her six-year-old son from an attack by three dogs in rural California. Emily Panuco, from Parker, Arizona, had driven her son across the state line to Big River, California, on 27 February so he could see a litter of puppies at her mother's home.
According to local authorities, when the boy approached the puppies to pet them, three adult dogs, including the mother of the puppies, suddenly attacked him. Panuco stepped in, shielding her son and managing to push him into the car. The boy survived with bites to his legs, arms and back, but Panuco did not.
Her mother-in-law, Esther Panuco, said: 'She somehow got him into the car, and maybe she wasn’t able to get in because the car was still running, the door was open. I think that was her first instinct, that she didn’t even think about what would happen to her, that she needed to save her son.'
The boy witnessed the entire attack. Panuco's body was discovered by her mother, who returned home the following day. Panuco leaves behind her husband, Richie, their six-year-old son and a seven-month-old baby.
A GoFundMe page set up by relatives describes the family as 'reeling' from the loss and struggling to cover medical bills, funeral costs and long-term care for the children, including specialised therapy for her son after witnessing his mother's death. The page states: 'Richie Panuco is my cousin, and he is facing an unimaginable loss. His wife, Emily, tragically passed away after being attacked by dogs while protecting their young son.'
Emily worked at the Colorado River Indian Tribes Library, where she was known for her kindness. Local authorities confirmed that the three adult dogs involved were euthanised.
