Tragedy Strikes Modesto: 93-year-old woman dies after dog attack.

In a heartbreaking incident that unfolded in a Modesto neighborhood, a beloved 93-year-old woman, Chanthy Philavong Maetu, tragically lost her life after a harrowing encounter with two dogs in her front yard.

The shocking incident occurred around 2 p.m. on a fateful Thursday afternoon along the 3600 block of Dothan Drive, leaving the community shaken and grieving.

Modesto Police swiftly responded to the scene, launching an investigation that would last until after 5 p.m. on that fateful day. The initial reports suggested that Ms. Maetu was in stable condition following the attack. However, her family anxiously awaited updates from the emergency room doctors who were tirelessly working to assess the extent of her injuries.

The situation was incredibly tense, but the resilient spirit of the 93-year-old woman shone through. Her family noted that despite the trauma she had endured, she remained in the best spirits she could muster that Thursday evening. Sadly, the optimism was short-lived, as Modesto Police later confirmed on Friday night that Ms. Maetu had succumbed to her injuries earlier that morning while receiving care at the hospital.

As the community mourns this devastating loss, the case remains under investigation by diligent detectives who are determined to uncover the details surrounding this tragic incident.

According to neighbor Jeniece Dendulk, the horrifying encounter began when two dogs, later identified as Cane Corsos, approached her front door. Security video footage captured the dogs standing at the door, tails wagging, appearing deceptively friendly. Dendulk exercised caution, opening her main door but keeping the metal screen door securely shut to prevent direct contact with the dogs.

In recounting the terrifying moments, Dendulk shared, “I opened the door, and there’s the screen, there the two big ol’ dogs. I’m like, oh we’re not gonna answer the door.” Recognizing the urgency of the situation, she immediately called out to a nearby neighbor, who began attempting to contact the dogs’ owners. It seemed evident that these dogs had somehow escaped from the backyard of the neighboring house.

Tragedy struck in the blink of an eye. Within moments, Dendulk heard screams and sounds of a vicious attack unfolding just outside her home. She knew instinctively that these Cane Corsos were far from friendly.

Summoning every ounce of courage, Dendulk took action. She gathered nearby shoes and planters to hurl in the direction of the dogs, all the while ensuring that she didn’t harm Ms. Maetu in her desperate attempt to fend off the aggressive dogs. Eventually, with the help of brave neighbors, they managed to get the elderly woman safely inside her home. They held the metal screen door closed, shielding themselves from the relentless aggression of the dogs.

However, the ordeal was far from over. As Dendulk tried to return to her own home, the dogs pursued her, barking and growling menacingly. Miraculously, she managed to enter her home unscathed but deeply shaken by the traumatic encounter. In the aftermath, she couldn’t help but reflect on how close she had come to encountering the dogs just moments earlier.

Modesto Police took immediate action by placing both dogs in a 10-day rabies quarantine, following standard protocol in such cases. The future steps in this investigation are yet to be determined, as an MPD spokesperson has conveyed.

In the midst of this tragedy, the alleged owner of the dogs declined to comment on the situation, initially denying even having dogs at their residence. Neighbors, however, reported that the owners were not at home during the attack and that the dogs had displayed repeated aggressive behavior since they were puppies.

As Modesto comes to terms with this heartbreaking loss and awaits answers from the ongoing investigation, the community’s thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the 93-year-old woman who tragically lost her life in her own front yard, a place that should have been safe and peaceful.

By: M Z Hossain, Editor Sky Buzz Feed