61-year-old woman killed by dogs while walking down the street, Tennessee police say

Two dogs attacked a woman who was walking down the street at night, leaving her bleeding in the road, Tennessee authorities said.

Theresa Rhodes, 61, died at a hospital after the attack, the Bolivar Police Department said in a news release.

A 911 distress call came in at around 1:30 a.m. on July 1, police said. Rhodes was found in the street covered in blood from “extensive injuries,” with two dogs hovering nearby, according to police.

In order to get close enough to safely help the woman, an officer shot one of the dogs, causing both to run off, according to police.

Rhodes was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The city of Bolivar put out an alert for residents to be “hyper-vigilant” while walking around the neighborhood until animal control or police can locate the dogs that attacked Rhodes.

“Our officers responded swiftly and professionally to the situation, and we are actively working to ensure the safety of our community,” Bolivar Police Chief Mike Jones said.

Investigators are looking into the circumstances that led up to the attack.

Bolivar is about a 70-mile drive east from Memphis.

What to know about dog attacks

Dogs bite more than 4.5 million people each year in the U.S., and nearly 800,000 of those people need medical attention , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

Any dog can bite if they feel scared or nervous, or if they want to be alone. You should never approach a dog that seems angry or scared, the CDC said.

If an unfamiliar dog comes up to you, officials say you should:

• Stay calm and be still.

• Avoid eye contact with the dog.

• Don’t panic or make loud noises. Don’t run.

• Say “no” or “go home” in a deep voice. Stand with the side of your body toward the dog.

• Slowly raise your hands to your neck and back away slowly.

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