Authorities in western Iowa now say an elderly woman’s pet dog was apparently responsible for her death earlier this week. Seventy-nine-year-old Shirley Lou Bird of Ida Grove was found dead in her home.

The Ida County Sheriff’s Office asked for assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation to determine if a crime had been committed. An autopsy was conducted by the State Medical Examiner on Tuesday in Ankeny. Bird’s body had several bite marks including a deep wound on her arm.

It is believed that she was bitten by her German Shepherd several times and went to the bathroom to stop the bleeding. She subsequently died from blood loss. The death has been ruled accidental and the dog has been euthanized.

By Michael Earl, KDSN, Denison