Dog Enters House, Attacks Comatose Woman

In a grotesque attack, a dog entered a Sun Valley home through a “doggie door” Sunday and viciously chewed the foot of a comatose woman who was being cared for by relatives, police and other officials said.

The victim, whose name was withheld by authorities, was taken to Holy Cross Medical Center and is in serious condition, said Jim Wells, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

According to police, the victim, described only as a woman in her 30s, had been in a deep coma for several years.

The bizarre attack occurred about 11:30 a.m. Sunday at a house in the 9900 block of Maude Avenue.

Authorities said a dog that lives at the house left through the pet door. Later, another animal--a large black dog that does not live there--entered through the doorway and attacked the woman. The woman’s mother managed to scare the dog away, but not before it devoured most of the woman’s foot, authorities said.

Los Angeles police joined officials from the East Valley Animal Shelter in searching for the black dog, which had not been found as of late Sunday. Police described the dog, possibly a Rottweiler, as black with some brown markings on its face.

Wells said the attack is a harsh reminder that pet doors can be used by intruders--human or animal--to gain entry into homes.

“The public needs to be aware that these things can happen and that we constantly need to safeguard our families and our homes,” Wells said.