A young Arizona mom was mauled to death by three dogs at her mother’s home in Southern California while protecting her 5-year-old son.
Emily Panuco, 26, from Parker, Ariz., went to her mom’s home in Big River just over the state border on Feb. 27 to see a litter of puppies when the attack occurred, according to the Colorado River Sheriff’s Department.
The week-old pups, who belonged to Panuco’s mother, were being kept in a cardboard box near the front door of the home on the 6700 block of Wingfoot Court.
Emily Panuco from Parker, Ariz., visited her mom’s home near the state border in Big River when the attack occurred. Facebook / @Emily Ann
Investigators said the boy went to pet the puppies when the three adult dogs attacked. Facebook / @Emily AnnWhen Panuco’s son went over to pet the pups, three adult dogs on the property — including the puppies’ mother — suddenly went after the boy.
Panuco jumped in to shield her son from the terrifying onslaught and suffered several lethal bite wounds.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her son sustained two severe bites and was treated at a hospital before later being released.
Authorities did not disclose the vicious dogs’ breed, stating that animal control took possession of them and they were later euthanized.
Panuco was described as a “devoted mother” to her children including a 6-year-old and 7-month-old. Facebook / @Emily Ann
A cluttered residential yard with a house, a black tent, and various objects. Derek Shook for CA PostDownload The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
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A dusty yard with a red car, an old semi-truck missing its engine, a rusty pickup truck with a camper shell, and a house with a damaged roof. Derek Shook for CA Post
A house with a damaged roof and surrounding desert bushes, with mountains in the background. Derek Shook for CA PostA GoFundMe organized by Panuco’s loved ones described her as a “devoted mother” to her two children, including a 7-month-old, who also leaves behind he husband.
“The shock and pain of this event have left the family reeling, and they are in need of support from their community,” a note on the fundraising site read.
It said that Panuco worked at a local library, “where she touched the lives of many children and families.”
“Her love for her own family was evident in everything she did, and her absence leaves a tremendous void,” the note continued.
The investigation remains ongoing.
A Wingfoot Court and Capistrano Way street sign in a desert landscape. Derek Shook for CA Post
A rural home in Big River, California, with desert landscaping, power lines, and various vehicles parked outside. Derek Shook for CA PostPanuco appeared to be a dog lover, posting photos of several pooches on her social media accounts through the years.
Her loved ones mourned the 26-year-old in heartbreaking online tributes.
“Emily was full of love, compassion, and a fierce passion for advocacy,” a colleague wrote in a Facebook post. “She was a book lover, a coffee-tea lover, a pizza slinger, a little bit sassy, and carried a reggae spirit everywhere she went. Above all, she was devoted to her family—being a wife, a mother, and a sister was her greatest pride.”
The note continued: “If there was a child who needed a champion, Emily was already standing there for them.”
“Her time with us gave her purpose, and her passion overflowed in everything she touched,” it read. “That is what I loved most about her.
