Source: floridatoday
July 8, 2008 Author: basu
TITUSVILLE -- Loriane May loved and doted on her three dogs, her neighbors said. But police said two of them mauled and killed the 74-year-old Thursday.
Police said May was found dead at her Elliot Avenue residence by her son after he returned from work Thursday afternoon. She had been dead for several hours.
May had been bitten on her arms, shoulder and neck, police said. "She was bitten more times than anyone can count," said Lt. Todd Hutchinson of Titusville police. "She suffered a dislocated shoulder."
He described the scene inside the house as gruesome.
An autopsy by the medical examiner's office Friday concluded that May died of multiple blunt trauma caused by two of her dogs. The final medical report and the investigation could take up to 12 weeks, police said.
The two dogs -- a 6-year-old golden retriever and Labrador mix and an 11-year-old Australian shepherd -- are being held by Brevard County Animal Service and Enforcement.
There had been no previous complaints about either dog.
"Euthanasia will be the most likely course once we complete our investigation," said Bob Brown of the animal service.
The family has authorized the dogs to be destroyed, police said.
May had another dog at the house, a cocker spaniel named Jolie, but police said it was not involved in the attack.
A neighbor said the Labrador mix was an aggressive dog and did not get along with the two other dogs.
"That dog was not overtly friendly. I believe it was segregated in another room," said Milton Farrow, who lives two doors from May's house.
Farrow speculated that the two dogs might have started fighting and May tried to separate them.
Jolie, the cocker spaniel, was given to May by Farrow's wife, who passed away in 2005.
"She just fell in love with the spaniel when she saw it," he said.
He described May as a quiet lady and a fastidious dog owner who took good care of her pets.
"You could tell that dogs brought her a lot of joy," he said. "She loved her dogs from ear to ear."