Dogs kill 84-year-old and her dog in attack that also injures man, Arizona cops say

Don Sweeney
·2 min read

An 84-year-old woman and her dog died in a Sierra Vista dog attack that also left a man with critical injuries, Arizona police reported.

Officers responding to a Friday, June 23, 911 call reporting a dog attack in an alley found a dog attacking a man in a nearby yard, police said in a news release.

Officers killed the dog and provided first aid to the man, identified as Sam Sanches Jr., 53, police said.

Police found Helene Jackson, 84, in an alley behind the home with her dog, which had been killed, the release said.

A second dog returned to the yard, and police also killed it, officials said.

Sanches and Jackson were taken to a Tucson hospital, where Jackson died, police said. Sanches was listed in critical condition.

Animal control officers collected the bodies of all three dogs for testing. Police ask anyone with information to call detective Thomas P. Ransford at 520-452-7500.

Sierra Vista is a city of about 45,000 people near the Mexican border about 190 miles southeast of Phoenix.

What to know about dog attacks

“Dogs give us comfort, companionship, exercise, entertainment, and unconditional love,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. “But it’s important to remember that any dog can bite, even trusted family pets.”

Dogs bite more than 4.5 million people each year in the U.S., and nearly 800,000 of those people need medical attention, according to the CDC.

Any dog can bite if they feel scared or nervous, or if they want to be alone. You should never approach a dog that seems angry or scared, the CDC said.

If an unfamiliar dog comes up to you, officials say you should:

  • Stay calm and be still.

  • Avoid eye contact with the dog.

  • Don’t panic or make loud noises. Don’t run.

  • Say “no” or “go home” in a deep voice. Stand with the side of your body toward the dog.

  • Slowly raise your hands to your neck and back away slowly.

‘Aggressive’ bears charge at hikers, attack dog off Blue Ridge Parkway, rangers say

40-year-old uncle killed by dog pack on Texas street had ‘warrior’s heart,’ family says

Teen’s misguided ‘rescue’ of coyote pup leads to its death, Arizona officials say