Local woman succumbs to injuries after being mauled by dogs
BOLIVAR, Tenn. — Authorities are investigating after they say a woman was mauled by dogs early Monday morning.
According to the Bolivar Police Department, the victim was fatally injured by the two dogs.
According to a statement from the Administrative Assistant for the City of Bolivar, Sarah Rice, police were dispatched early Monday morning to an area near Mitchell Street and Sycamore Street.
The initial call law enforcement received stated a woman was found bleeding in the roadway. When officers arrived on scene, they found a woman identified as Theresa Rhodes in critical condition with “extensive injuries sustained from a dog attack.”
In the statement, Rice says law enforcement spotted two dogs near the scene and “In response to the immediate threat to Ms. Rhodes and to safely assist and administer first aid to the victim, an officer discharged his firearm injuring one of the dogs.” After this, both dogs ran away. Law enforcement then gave Rhodes medical attention until emergency medical services arrived on scene. Rhodes was transported to Bolivar General Hospital, where she died as a result of her injuries.
In the days after the incident, law enforcement and animal control searched for the two dogs to capture them. That Monday, they found the first dog, and on Tuesday they found the second. Rice tells us both animals have been euthanized.
The two dogs did not belong to Rhodes, and it is still unclear as to why they attacked her in the first place.
According to Bolivar Mayor, Julian McTizic, further information about the incident is not being released at this time.
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