Pet Pit Bull Attacks Owner, Critically Injures Her

A pit bull is dead, and her 59-year-old owner is struggling to stay alive.

Helen Grimes' husband put the dog down after it mauled his wife's entire face at their Katy-area home on Thursday night.

Grimes is now in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Memorial Hermann Hospital.

The attack shed light on a policy by the Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services Agency, which oversees the county's animal control division.

"We're waiting on a return call from animal control to see if they're gonna come out and take the animal or not," said Terry Thurman, assistant chief with the Precinct 5 Constable's Office.

They did not pick up the 2-year female pit bull. In fact, animal control will not pick up any pets. Colleen Hodges is spokesperson for the agency.

"This is an owned pet, that has an owner, and the dog is confined; it’s not like it's out running around," said Hodges.

Hodges says while animal control workers will seize stray dogs, taxpayers should not be responsible for dogs that have owners, even if they've just attacked that owner.

The attack on Grimes was not just a simple dog bite. Her pit bull tore into her head, face, ears, and an eye.

"It was severe enough where they needed to get her to a hospital as soon as possible," said Thurman.