HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Behind a wooden fence in the Miramar Lake subdivision near Tomball is where Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said at least one pet dog apparently turned on its owner.
"They said it was consistent with a dog mauling,” said Herman.
Herman told us responding emergency crews found Jessica Flores Wauters, 59, covered in blood Sunday along with one of three dogs, a Rottweiler.
"The victim was still alive," said Herman. "They transported her to a local hospital in The Woodlands where she did eventually pass from her injuries."
Neighbors recalled seeing the woman being loaded onto an ambulance but didn’t know why initially.
"I’m heartbroken," said neighbor Julie Blue. "You know, to have something like that to happen. It’s sad.”
Blue has raised her own Rottweilers for years and currently has a pair of 10-month-old puppies.
"With excellent training, they’re phenomenal dogs," said Blue. "They’re very, very good dogs.”
She couldn't imagine what may have happened to prompt the death of her neighbor whose dog she never really saw but heard barking on occasion.
"It appears just to be a tragic incident involving a dog,” said Herman.
Herman said the investigation is ongoing while his agency awaits the medical examiner’s report.
Harris County Public Health sent over the following statement about this incident:
Two dogs involved in an alleged mauling incident of a woman in her Tomball home on Sunday, October 8, were brought voluntarily by their owner to Harris County Pets Resource Center (HCP) today and were humanely euthanized. Their remains will be tested for rabies, a standard Veterinary Public Health procedure.
HCP was notified of a third dog involved in the incident. However, the dog was not brought to the facility.