Elderly Woman Killed by Pack of Dogs in Peru; Neighbors Denounce Previous Aggressions

A 72-year-old woman, Aurora Barreda Huanca, died after being attacked by a pack of feral dogs in the San Pedro y San Pablo association in Cerro Colorado, Arequipa, Peru. The brutal incident occurred around 9:00 AM on Friday as she was walking home, resulting in injuries so severe that she died at the scene.

Neighbors reported the attack after finding the woman lying in the street. Police cordoned off the area to conduct their investigation. Preliminary reports suggest Barreda Huanca, who sold chopped carrots at the Andrés Avelino Cáceres market, was returning home with bread when the attack happened. Residents have voiced long-standing concerns about aggressive dogs roaming the area, claiming the pack, estimated to be between 30 and 40 animals, is often fed near a local butcher shop.

However, Marco Sanabria, deputy manager of Licenses, Authorizations, and ITSE for the Cerro Colorado District Municipality, stated that there is currently no evidence to attribute ownership of the dogs to any specific individual. While some residents have pointed to the owner of a nearby butcher shop, Sanabria explained that this claim could not be verified, noting that different groups of dogs, numbering six to eight, are seen in the area. He added that the municipality does not have the authority to euthanize the animals involved.

Sanabria clarified that the municipality's role is limited to preventive and contingency measures, such as relocating the dogs to shelters or safe havens. The community has requested official intervention to prevent further incidents, highlighting a history of similar dog attacks in the vicinity. The investigation into the dogs' origins and ownership is ongoing.