A 23-year-old woman in Texas has died after being attacked by three pit bulls she was looking after for a family friend. Madison Hull was pet-sitting at a home in Tyler, about 90 minutes east of Dallas, when the dogs turned on her on Friday.
According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Hull had gone to the property to let the dogs inside after they escaped. The animals then fatally mauled her. A neighbour called 911 after hearing a commotion. When officers arrived, they saw Hull lying in the backyard, but the dogs charged at one officer, who shot and killed one of them, causing the others to retreat indoors.
Sergeant Larry Christian said the two surviving pit bulls have been released to animal control and will be humanely destroyed. The owner, who was out of town at the time, waived his right to a hearing. Investigators are working with the district attorney to determine if charges will be filed.
Hull’s mother, Jennifer Hubbell, said her daughter had recently noticed a change in the dogs’ behaviour. Hull was six months away from graduating with a degree in early childhood education from the University of Texas at Tyler, a field she chose to help her younger brother, who has autism. A GoFundMe page has raised more than $10,000 for funeral expenses.
