Newly uncovered details paint a harrowing picture of the last moments of a young mother from Arizona, who tragically lost her life in a brutal dog attack while heroically attempting to protect her 6-year-old son.
Emily Panuco, 26, was fatally attacked at her mother’s residence in Big River, California, near the Arizona border. The attack involved a dog previously abandoned by a neighbor, alongside a Heeler mix named “Dipstick” and another mixed-breed dog, as disclosed by her family to The Post.
Her brother, Daniel De Leon, explained that their mother had taken in the stray dog out of kindness, never anticipating it would later be involved in such a horrific incident that claimed Emily’s life and injured her young son.
“She would leave food out because she loved dogs,” Daniel shared on Wednesday, speaking from Emily’s home in Parker, Arizona. His words highlight the unintended consequences of his mother’s well-meaning actions.
The tragic event unfolded in the absence of Emily’s mother, who was not present during the attack. She returned home to a nightmarish scene that has left a lasting impact.
“It was horrific for her,” remarked Esther Panuco, Emily’s mother-in-law, reflecting on the unimaginable horror faced by the family.
The tragic incident unfolded on Feb. 27, when Emily took her son Jesse to visit a litter of puppies at his grandmother’s home as a “treat” for the boy, her family said.
The week-old pups were being kept in a cardboard box near the front door of the home when Jesse went over to pet them, authorities said.
That’s when the three dogs descended on the young boy, leading a frantic Emily to jump in to try to protect him.
She suffered several lethal bite wounds and died at the scene, while Jesse sustained two severe bites and survived.
“It was a dog protecting her puppies,” Esther Panuco said.
The third dog involved in the attack was the grown “puppy” of the abandoned hound, the family said. All three of the canines were euthanized by authorities after the attack.
Emily’s husband of eight years, Richie Panuco, 31, called his wife a “hero” for saving the life of their eldest child.
“She was a great person. A great role model, not only for her family, but I believe for the community,” he said.
“She was supportive of everyone’s dreams. Always full of joy. She did a great job at being very joyful.’
Emily also had a seven-month-old daughter, Rosmé, and acted as the guardian of her 16-year-old sister, Saralynn.
“She’s always been somebody to lean on,” hr bother added. “She lived for her kids.”
