Pitbull Attacks 4-Year-Old Son in US...Mother Dies After Losing Both Arms Trying to Save Child

Multiple Pit Bull Terrier Dog Bite Incidents in the US... 31 Deaths Reported from January to September Last Year

A Pit Bull Terrier wearing a muzzle. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Getty Images]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] In the United States, a tragic accident occurred where a mother in her 30s lost both arms and died while trying to save her four-year-old child from a dog attack.

According to NBC on the 20th (local time), Heather Pingel (35), who lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was severely injured with both arms amputated due to an attack by a Pit Bull Terrier on the 8th. She was taken to the hospital but her condition did not improve, and she ultimately passed away on the 16th, eight days later.

At the time, Pingel was reportedly injured while trying to stop the Pit Bull Terrier from attacking her four-year-old son. Her boyfriend, Shane Bernarde, said, "I received a call from Pingel saying 'our son fell down the stairs,' and when I arrived home, the accident was happening."

He said, "The dog attacked the child first, and Pingel separated her son," adding, "Then the dog lunged at Pingel again and bit her." Bernarde ended the situation by shooting the Pit Bull Terrier with a gun he had at home.

Local police stated that the Pit Bull Terrier that attacked Pingel and her son appeared to have hostility toward humans due to abuse from a previous owner. It was also reported that the dog showed aggressive behavior even while under Pingel’s care.

Pingel’s younger sister, Shannon, said, "Pingel was someone who loved animals more than anyone else," and added, "She probably thought she could control and properly train the dog’s aggression." She continued about her late sister, "She was a hero who sacrificed herself to save her son. We will honor how wonderful she was as a mother," and appealed, "I miss everything about my sister."

Pingel’s son was hospitalized with an injury requiring 70 stitches on his leg and has recently recovered and been discharged.

Meanwhile, accidents involving Pit Bull Terriers, considered a dangerous breed, attacking people and causing harm have been steadily occurring in the United States. In August, a man in his 60s in Harris County, Texas, lost one ear after being attacked by two Pit Bull Terriers while on a walk.

The International Pit Bull Victims Foundation reported that 31 people died from Pit Bull Terrier attacks in the United States alone between January and September of last year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.