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Woman, 61, allegedly mauled to death by stray dogs that she took care of at an animal shelter in Egypt

Anne Johnson was found dead, next to a bag of dog food, at the shelter in the Red Sea city of Dahab, with fatal lacerations on her body
UPDATED MAR 19, 2020
Getty Images
Getty Images

A 61-year-old British woman was reportedly 'eaten' by a pack of dogs she helped care for at an Egyptian animal shelter, police said. On Friday, February 27, Anne Johnson was found dead, next to a bag of dog food, at the shelter in the Red Sea city of Dahab, with fatal lacerations to her body.

First responders later disclosed that the victim has suffered bite marks to her face, neck, arms and legs from three canines at the shelter when she had gone to feed them. The official cause of her death remains undetermined. Her body, which was discovered by workers at the shelter, has been sent for autopsy. 

An anonymous friend of Johnson's told Daily Mail that people close to the victim refused to believe that she was attacked by the dogs she helped care for. Instead, they suspected that she must have fallen unconscious while trying to feed them. There were also those who believed that the police were deliberately framing the animals for her death as it would give them an excuse to shut down the shelter, which was hugely unpopular with the locals, who were fearful of the dogs. 

"Authorities have tried shutting her down for years, they're obviously using this to push for the shelter to be shut down," the source said. "We are very concerned for the animals. She dedicated her life to the dogs. This is not what she would have wanted."

Johnson, who grew up in Macclesfield, had lived in Egypt for 16 years. During her time there, she worked to save stray and abandoned animals at the shelter. The shelter was funded by a UK-based non-profit charity and was mostly run by Johnson alone. 

Following her death, a message posted on 'Janet's Wadi - Support The Street Dogs of Dahab' - a Facebook group set up as a tribute to Johnson - read: "Janet spent her life saving neglected and suffering animals of Dahab and fought for them when they had no one else. Janet will forever be in our hearts, she helped so many. She will be greatly missed and will be remembered for her passion, dedication and big heart."

It added: "We extend our heartfelt condolences firstly to all her fur babies whom she saved and tried tirelessly to find a better future and to get them more help, to her friends and family. The rescue world has lost a a very special person today. May you rest in peace."

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