Fresno pit bull attack victim loses her arm

Doctors were forced to amputate the left arm of a woman who was mauled by pit bull dogs Tuesday in downtown Fresno, police reported.

Lt. Joe Gomez said the woman, who was attacked in an alley behind McKenzie Avenue at Diamond Street, remains unidentified and is in very critical condition at Community Regional Medical Center. The woman, who may be a transient, was walking in the alley when the dogs escaped a fenced yard, possibly through an alley gate or by climbing atop a chair, Gomez said.

The woman sustained serious bites over most of her body and was rushed to the trauma center at CRMC. Gomez said the woman needed emergency blood transfusions.

Four dogs were taken away after the attack. Police say two will be euthanized and the other two will be evaluated.

Police did not immediately know the identity of the victim, who is in her 50s. Officers tried to use a fingerprint reader for identification but were unsuccessful because of the extent of her injuries.

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 2:06 PM with the headline "Fresno pit bull attack victim loses her arm."