The victim, Carol Harris, was killed by an Akita.
Harris was volunteering with Akita Advocates, which had rented out space at the Canine Country Club and Feline Inn in Phoenix.
The organization confirmed Harris was killed Wednesday in a statement posted to Facebook.
The Canine County Club and Feline Inn issued a statement on the mauling incident: “It is with heavy hearts we pass along sad news. This afternoon a volunteer from one of the rescue groups we host was playing with…[an] Akita [that] is owned by the rescue group, Akita Advocates…in one of our play yards when [the] dog attacked her. She was taken to the hospital with critical injuries, and has since passed away.”
The business adds that it takes “great pride in the work the rescue groups who use our facilities do to ensure better lives for animals.”
The mauling is “a tragedy,” the statement adds. “We are all at a loss for words.”
The Akita who killed Harris had been abandoned, and she was working with the animal to rehabilitate it for adoption. The dog will be euthanized.
According to police, Harris was found lying motionless with dog bites. She was rushed to a hospital, where she died.
PEOPLE’s attempts to reach her family were unsuccessful Friday.
Harris is the second woman this month whose mauling death by dogs has made headlines.
Note: The one thing about followers of the Akita breed. I have never seen them promoting this dog as a misunderstood wigglebutt. Instead, I see enthusiasts say they're great dogs for 'the right person' because:
◆ they're strong-willed dogs prone to aggression, that due to its dominant nature, the Akita does not interact well with other dogs.
◆ This tough breed can be difficult for a first-time dog owner to handle.
◆ As general rule, the Akita or any other large dog, should not be left alone with those who are under the age of 12 years old.
◆ The Akita sees his family very differently than he sees outsiders. He entire demeanor can change in an instant.
◆ Despite proper training, humans cannot completely undo basic nature of a canine. The Akita is a guard dog; and has been bred for centuries to be a hunting dog. This sort of deep trait characteristic cannot be taken away.
(People Magainze - December 22, 2017)
