Phoenix woman mauled to death by dogs on her own front porch
Phoenix, Arizona - An Arizona family is mourning the loss of their beloved grandmother after she was mauled to death by four dogs in a shocking attack.
Eliza Sebastian Ruiz was sitting on her porch in Phoenix on the morning of July 4 when all of a sudden her neighbor's four dogs came charging at her. The elderly woman didn't stand a chance against the Staffordshire terrier mixes.
Police officers found Ruiz lying severely injured on the porch around 7 AM. The vicious animals still surrounded her at the time.
Even though the 77-year-old was quickly rushed to a hospital, she succumbed to her severe injuries only a short time later, NBC12 reported.
The dogs' owner, Alejandro Hernandez (33), now faces charges of negligent homicide.
According to police, Maricopa County Animal Care and Control had been in contact with the man in the past because he allegedly had failed to control his pets several times.
Ruiz's daughter finds bitter words
Despite allegedly getting many requests, Hernandez never repaired his gate because he simply "did not have time," he told officers.
He also admitted to prior incidents of his dogs biting other people.
Blake Mayes, an attorney with MayesTelles PLLC, was quoted by NBC12 as saying:
"If you own a dog that bites somebody else without provocation ... then you are strictly liable, meaning they don't have to prove anything. They don't have to prove that you did something wrong. They don't have to prove that you were negligent. You're simply liable."
Alejandro Hernandez is now likely to face serious consequences – cold comfort for Ruiz' daughter, Refugia Alonso. She told NBC12 that Hernandez's loved ones can at least still visit him in jail. Her family, however, will never see her mother again.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for the Ruiz's funeral.
Cover photo: 123RF/santiaga22/GoFundMe/Screenshot