Mother Severely Injured Trying To Save Two Young Children From Pit Bull Attack; Children Pronounced Dead At Scene

Two children were mauled to death, and their mother was injured during a pit bull attack.

Memphis, Tennessee mother Kirstie Bennard, 30, was injured while trying to stop two family dogs from attacking her two young children: 5-month-old Hollace Dean and her 2-year-old Lilly Jane, USA Today reports. The 10-minute-long incident took place in their West Memphis home.

“She put her body on top of Lilly’s to try and protect her after the attack started,” said Bennard’s uncle, Jeff Gibson.” Both (dogs) started attacking her while she lay on Lilly.” The children were pronounced dead at the scene. Bennard was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

There are no details about what may have triggered the dogs, which were identified as two pit bulls. On Thursday, the dogs — which the family had for eight years without a violent incident — were euthanized by Memphis Animal Services.