Monte Alto dog attack brings awareness to food aggression, strays

MONTE ALTO, Texas ( ValleyCentral ) — The woman who was killed by her dog at her Monte Alto residence has been identified as 85-year-old Geronima Florez.

Authorities say the dog who attacked her was a black Pit Bull mix breed, one of the many dogs on her property.

The dog attacked her while she went outside to feed them. Sargeant Enrique Longoria of the Hidalgo County Police Department says they believe the attack was prompted by the dogs feeling territorial over the food.

“We feel that it was because during the feeding times the other dogs became territorial along with the dog that attacked Ms. Florez and our investigation is leading us to believe that that’s why she was attacked by her own canine,” Longoria said.

ValleyCentral spoke with a local dog trainer who has been in the business for 29 years. Cynthia Kendrick of Dog Obedience Inc. in Edinburg said she does not typically see dogs turn violent on their owners unless food is involved.

“When food is involved and you have not taught them how to be respectful towards other dogs with their food and other people – with yourself. You may reach your hand in there to pick up his dish and he may just go after your hand,” Kendrick said.

Kendrick says one of the best practices to avoid food aggression is to train dogs around food while they are puppies. She advises owners to put their hands near their dog’s food, move it and mess with it.

“Make sure when you get a puppy, you mess with his food. You put your hand in his dish, you take his food away, you give it to him, you hand-feed him,” Kendrick said. “You make sure he knows you’re the boss and you take care of the food.”

Longoria said the results of the autopsy substantiate the dog attack. Florez had injuries to her neck area and upper head. When Florez’s brother walked in on the attack, he shot the dog and Florez was transported to a hospital where she later died.

Authorities said 25 other dogs were recovered from her property by animal control, many of the dogs were believed to be only one to two weeks old.

The investigation revealed that Florez would often take in strays from the neighborhood and care for them.

If you see stray dogs around your neighborhood or property, you are encouraged to call your local animal control so the dogs can be properly rescued.

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