Woman fatally attacked by pit bull

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published June 30, 2007

DELTONA - A Texas woman was fatally mauled by a pit bullterrier that belonged to her sister, Volusia County authorities said.

Mary Bernal, 63, who was visiting her sister, was attacked while picking up another dog, sheriff's officials said.

Deputies had to use a Taser on the dog to stop the attack. Bernal was airlifted to a Daytona Beach hospital where she died, according to a sheriff's office news release.

The dog also bit its owner, Bernal's sister, Estela Macias, 52, authorities said. Macias was taken to Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford. She was listed in stable condition Friday night.

The pit bullterrier was euthanized after the attacks, the Halifax Humane Society in Daytona Beach said. Officials planned to conduct rabies tests.

[Last modified June 29, 2007, 23:39:34]