Woman, 61, Dead and 2 Injured After a Dog ’Went Crazy’ in a Sudden Attack That Ended with a Neighbor Shooting the Animal

A female has died and 2 others were injured aft a canine onslaught successful Alabama.

Deputies responded to a study of a canine wound connected Macks Way successful Oneonta astatine astir 3 a.m. section clip connected Tuesday, Sept. 23, according to nan Blount County Sheriff's Office, per AL.com, WBRC and WVTM 13. Upon arrival, they recovered a 61-year-old woman, Sandra Wolfe Schaefer, and 2 others injured.

Officials said a man was looking aft nan canine for a friend who is presently successful nan Jefferson County Jail, per WVTM 13. The man had taken a break from moving successful his shop to locomotion nan canine erstwhile nan animal abruptly "went crazy" and spot his hands, astir ripping disconnected his fingers, according to nan Sheriff's Office, per AL.com.

Schaefer and her husband, who were visiting nan man, were attacked by nan canine arsenic they attempted to propulsion nan animal disconnected his caretaker.

A 4th personification past changeable and killed nan dog, constabulary told PEOPLE.

“A neighbor/family personnel of nan sitter ran complete and attempted to sprout nan canine to extremity nan onslaught but nan weapon malfunctioned. When nan canine disengaged, he was capable to sprout nan canine which didn’t survive,” Jason Paul, sergeant of nationalist accusation astatine Blount County Sheriff’s Office, said successful a connection to PEOPLE.

Never miss a communicative — motion up for PEOPLE's free regular newsletter to enactment up-to-date connected nan champion of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from personage news to compelling quality liking stories.

All 3 victims were hospitalized pinch terrible injuries. Schaefer later died from her injuries connected Friday, Sept. 26, nan sheriff's agency added.

Paul noted that nan canine had nary history of unit earlier aliases during its clip pinch nan caretaker, nan canine tested antagonistic for rabies, and nary criminal charges are expected.

There person been astatine slightest 4 different deadly canine attacks successful Alabama this year, according to AL.com.

On July 22, a 7-year-old boy was killed successful an onslaught connected nan spot wherever he lived successful Chilton County, and 2 days later, connected July 24, a 50-year-old woman, identified arsenic Delores M. Musgrove, was recovered dormant successful Bessemer pursuing a canine attack.

In March, a 6-month-old woman was killed by her family's pit bull successful her Alabaster home. In February, a 46-year-old female was killed erstwhile she was attacked by a battalion of dogs astatine a neighbor's location successful Tuscaloosa County, per WVTM 13.