Alsip Woman In Dog Mauling Identified

ALSIP, IL -- The name of the Alsip woman who police said was attacked and mauled by the family dog late Monday afternoon has been released. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified her as 76-year-old Dorothy Ford. The exact cause of the woman's death is still pending.

Alsip police answered a call of a dog attacking a person in a backyard at 11604 S. Komensky Ave. A neighbor passing by earlier saw the woman grappling with the dog on the back deck but assumed they were “rough housing.” He called 911 when he returned from walking his own dog and saw the dog on top of the woman, Alsip Police Chief Jay Miller told Daily Southtown.

Deputy Police Chief Shawn Schuldt described the scene officers encountered in the backyard on Monday as horrific. The dog continued to act aggressively and had to be shot by police. Schuldt said police had not any complaints prior to Monday from neighbors about the dog acting aggressively.

The dog was described by police as a 6-year-old pit bull, which was owned by another member of the household. Police are awaiting lab results to determine if the dog had rabies or some other disease that may have triggered the attack, Daily Southtown reported.