Gladys Anthony, deaf Missouri grandmother mauled to death by 3 escaping dogs as victim’s family demands justice, including charges against 54 year old dog owner and the euthanizing of the involved animals in dog attack.
A Missouri family is demanding justice after a 62 year old ‘deaf’ grandmother was mauled to death in her backyard by a neighbor’s three dogs after escaping through a hole in the man’s fence.
Gladys Anthony, 62, was attacked outside her St. Louis, Mo., home on Jan. 15, St. Louis Metropolitan Police said in a statement last week.
The three dogs involved in the attack escaped through a hole in the fence at their 54-year-old owner’s North City home just up the street. Gladys Anthony’s daughter, Keshia Anthony, says her mother was deaf and didn’t hear them coming.
Missouri dog owner could potentially face felony charges over fatal dog attack
‘You would think you safe in your own backyard, and she wasn’t. I hate that. Truly, I hate it easily with a passion,’ Keshia Anthony told WWNYTV.
Gladys Anthony who had worked as a school custodian was severely injured in the attack. She was taken to the hospital and later died in surgery.
Anthony’s 73-year-old husband who was injured during the attack, sustained several bites to his arms and legs. The man is expected to survive his ordeal. Police say he tried to fend the dogs off with a broom and to distract them by firing gunshots.
The dogs are now in the custody of Animal Control. Keshia Anthony is demanding they be euthanized and their owner be charged.
‘This man just out here free. It’s no remorse, no nothing. You ain’t even came down to our house and even show any type of sympathy or anything on the simple fact of what happened,’ she said.
Under Missouri law, a dog’s owner could be charged with a felony if the dog kills a person.
Two previous calls to the same house where dogs escaped
The Department of Health’s Animal Care and Control is investigating. The agency says after any incident, an officer will investigate and may declare the dog(s) involved dangerous. The decision will be reviewed by a supervisor then sent to the director of health for a final decision.
If a dog is declared dangerous, the owner has 35 days to comply with regulations or surrender them. If the owner fails to comply, the dog will be euthanized.
Anthony’s niece, Vrene Green, disagrees with the process, especially in her aunt’s case.
“They took a whole life. They should have been immediately put down,” she told WWNYTV.
The Department of Health responded sayings its investigation process ensures animals aren’t put down unnecessarily. The 54 year old dog owner continues to cooperate with authorities.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up to help Gladys Anthony’s family with funeral costs.
Of note, The Environmental Health Bureau Chief confirmed that in 2022, there were two calls to the house where the dogs came from but would not confirm it was the same dogs.
The investigation remains ongoing.
