A Pennsylvania mom of three was mauled to death by her neighbor’s dogs while trying to feed them, authorities said.
According to a statement by state police, Kristin Potter, 38, died on Thursday, March 16, after being attacked by two Great Danes when she went to feed them, in service to the dogs’ owner, who was away.
The incident happened at a home in Center Township, Pennsylvania. Perry County Coroner Robert Ressler told reporters the victim had gone to her neighbor’s home with her young son. Suddenly, the dogs turned on her, and her son ran for help.
Speaking to a local news outlet, Ressler said that the boy was present at the scene, but he did not witness much of the horrific mauling because he ran across the street to his brother to get help.
Responding officers arrived within minutes but could not save the woman. They had to wait until animal control officers arrived and tranquilized the dogs in order to get to Potter.
A family friend said that police hypothesized that the dogs had been fighting when Potter and her son arrived and that the dogs attacked her when she tried to separate them.
The medical examiner ruled her death was accidental and her cause of death was multiple traumatic injuries. It is unclear whether the owner will face any charges.
Animal control officers transported the two dogs to a veterinarian who euthanized them. According to the police, a third dog was at the attack scene but did not participate.
Potter’s husband, Jacob Presley Fickett, said she was a mom of three but lost one child to a car accident in 2021. Her distraught husband described Potter as an angel.
Great Danes can mature as tall as 32 inches and are known as easygoing and affectionate dogs, but their friendliness should not be mistaken for softness.
