COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The nephew of a South Carolina woman mauled to death by two dogs says his aunt was working in her garden as she did every day when she was attacked.

Nijoku Odom says 66-year-old Sirlinda Hayes and the rest of his family weren't afraid of the rottweilers, who sometimes got loose in their Dillon neighborhood.

Odom says he has no idea why the dogs attacked his aunt. He says they had gotten loose before but didn't cause any problems.

Sheriff's Capt. Cliff Arnette says when the dogs' owner tried to save Hayes at least one of the dogs attacked him. Officers then shot and killed the dogs because they threatened responders trying to help the injured people.

The owner was taken to a hospital for treatment. Arnette did not know the extent of his injuries.
(COPYRIGHT 2011 BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)
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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Sheriff's deputies say two dogs have mauled a woman to death and injured their owner.

Capt. Cliff Arnette says a woman was attacked in her front yard Thursday afternoon in Dillon, a city off Interstate 95 about 100 miles northeast of Columbia.

Arnette says the rottweilers' owner tried to save the woman when at least one of the dogs attacked him. He says deputies shot the two dogs after the animals continued to swarm responders trying to help.

The woman's name has not been released, and Arnette says investigators don't know why the dogs attacked her.

The owner was taken to a hospital. Arnette did not know the extent of his injuries.
(COPYRIGHT 2011 BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)