New York woman, 67, mauled to death by her pet dogs in her home in 'nightmare' attack
PLEASANT VALLEY, NEW YORK: A woman was mauled to death apparently by her own pet dogs in her New York home on Saturday, police said. According to reports, Arlene Webb Taylor Renna's husband, Joe Renna, found her unconscious on her living room floor after he got back to their house at around 4 pm.
Police arrived on the scene and determined that her wounds were consistent with a dog attack, New York Post reported. However, it is not clear as of now whether she was mauled by one of her two coondogs or both. The dogs were taken away by the Dutchess County's Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. According to the police, a judge will decide what happens to them.
The specific breed of dog is described as "deep-chested, sweet-faced athletes beloved by sportsmen for their speed and endurance" by the American Kennel Club, which added, "Their work drive and energy, the patience it takes to train them for things other than coon hunting, and their loud, ringing bark can make the breed a bad fit as house pets for novice owners."
Arlene was remembered by her ex-husband, John Taylor, after her death in a heart-wrenching Facebook post, where he called her his "high school sweetheart, my first wife, the mother of our three children, the grandmother of our Ellie."
"It is nothing short of a nightmare. Arlene was the kindest, most gentle, giving and wonderful woman, there was no better mother, no better grandmother," he added in the post.
John and Arlene were married for 21 years before they separated because of his demanding career and constant travel. They soon found new partners. "After college Arlene worked as a nurse in coronary critical care, then became a full-time mother (the most demanding job), a founding board member and volunteer for The Center for Parents and Children, a non-profit parenting education service, and then when our kids were on their own she became a social worker helping families in crisis. Everything she did she did for others," the post said.
The police are yet to determine what might have prompted the attack. However, authorities don't suspect any foul play in the incident.
“People like Arlene can never be replaced, they can only live in our hearts forever, and we should all learn by their example to be better people, to try to be more like them," John's post noted.