A deaf grandmother was tragically mauled to death by her neighbor’s three pit bulls in her own backyard – with the horrific attack leaving a gory trail of blood in the snow.
Gladys Anthony, 62, was attacked outside her home in St. Louis, Missouri, on January 15 as she took her own dog outside after her work shift.
While in her backyard the dogs came charging at her, but because of her disability ‘she had no warning’ and ‘no chance to protect herself,’ her family said.
Her husband, 73, attempted to save his wife as he fired a gun to scare them off and used a broom to get them off of Gladys.
A gunshot detection device, also known as a ShotSpotter, picked up the shots around 11.40pm in the 5900 block of Theodore Avenue. While officers made their way to the scene, they were notified that those involved needed help.
Two police officers rushed to the yard – covered in a bloody trail – and sprayed the animals with pepper spray, while a third cop aided Gladys, who was heavily bleeding.
Before EMS arrived, the officers tried their best to help the woman by applying tourniquets to stop the blood, but Gladys sadly died during surgery at the hospital.
‘They took a chunk of her arm,’ Gladys’ daughter Keshia Anthony told First Alert 4. ‘Her legs were ate up. There was nothing that could be done to stop those damn dogs from touching her.’
A deaf grandmother, Gladys Anthony, 62, was mauled to death by three pit bulls in her own backyard on the night of January 15. (Pictured: Gladys in an undated photo)
While in her backyard – now left with a trail of blood in the snow (pictured) – the dogs came charging at her, but because of her disability ‘she had no warning’ and ‘no chance to protect herself’
The dogs, who managed to escape from a home up the street through a hole in their owner’s fence, initially fled the scene. They were later found by authorities, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Animal control took the dogs from their 54-year-old male owner. It is unclear if he will face charges.
It is also unclear if authorities are considering euthanizing the dogs involved in the attack.
DailyMail.com contacted the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for comment.
Gladys’ husband survived the attack but sustained ‘several bites to his arms and legs,’ police said.
Her family is now trying to grieve Gladys’ sudden death while also getting justice.
‘She was sweet. She was loveable. Everybody that knew her loved her. She had so many friends,’ Anthony said of her late mom.
‘It’s just crazy this happened to her like this. She didn’t deserve it at all. Not one bit of it and now she’s got grandkids who don’t have their grandmother.’
Animal control took the dogs from their owner, a 54-year-old man. It is unclear if he will face charges. (Pictured: One of the dogs being placed in an animal control vehicle after the incident)
Gladys would’ve celebrated her 63rd birthday on Friday. She worked as a custodian for the Ritenour School District in Overland for more than 30 years
Gladys would’ve celebrated her 63rd birthday on Friday. Her family organized a balloon release in honor of her, which Anthony shared on Facebook.
‘I can’t bring her a gift. I’m sitting here trying to think of how we’re going to do arrangements for a funeral for my mother,’ she told the outlet.
Gladys’ niece, VRene Green, set up a GoFundMe page to give her ‘the proper homegoing she deserves.’
She’s been described as ‘a woman of unshakable character’ who was ‘respected for her integrity, dedication, and the joy she brought to others simply by being herself.’
She worked as a custodian for the Ritenour School District in Overland for more than 30 years. Her colleagues knew her for ‘her hard work, warm smile, and willingness to help anyone in need,’ the page said.
‘She was a gentle, caring, and selfless woman who spent her life looking out for others. To see her life taken in such a violent way, in the place she should have felt safest, is something we cannot come to terms with,’ Green added.
Green also said that other than raising money to lay her aunt to rest, the donation page is also ‘about raising awareness of this tragedy.’
She continued: ‘It’s about asking the hard questions: Could this have been prevented? What safety measures can be put in place to protect others from experiencing this kind of loss?
‘We believe that by sharing her story, we can spark change and make sure no one else has to go through what we are.’
As of Monday afternoon, more than $3,500 was raised to support her family.
