Greek woman mauled to death by her neighbour’s three shepherd dogs

Three shepherd dogs have mauled a woman to death in her garden in Greece.

The woman, who was 50, was attacked at about midday in the village of Neochorouda – 10 miles (16km) northwest of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city.

Police said the dogs escaped through a hole in their owner’s fence about 80m (262ft) away and ran to the woman’s garden where she was working.

A man who police said is deaf-mute was helping her at the time – but was too far away and could not hear the screams.

Emergency workers arrived with an ambulance to treat the woman, who was severely mauled and bleeding heavily, but she was confirmed dead at the scene.

The 37-year-old dog owner was arrested and faces a prosecutor on Monday morning, and the dogs are being held in a kennel and will be put down.

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According to Greek state broadcaster ERT, the woman’s two teenage sons – aged 17 and 18 – heard her screams but were too late to help.

Her ex-husband told the broadcaster the dogs were “huge, wild ones”.

“They have left many times and chased people many times,” he added.

“It is not the first time.”

Greek newspaper Ta Nea reports the woman had lived in the area for 20 years and was a candidate in local elections.