San Francisco woman hospitalized after being MAULED by pit bull off its leash

A woman was left critically injured after a pit bull was let off its leash and attacked her in a San Francisco neighborhood.

The victim was walking through the Tenderloin neighborhood when the dog attacked her. According to a report by CBS News, a witness who saw the attack said it lasted 10 to 15 minutes. Bystanders attempted to use pepper spray to deter the dog, but the animal continued attacking the woman.

Law enforcement arrived at the scene quickly, as the incident took place a quarter-mile from a police station. Officers were able to restrain the dog. In a video posted online, some witnesses were shouting “shoot the dog!” while others yelled, “don’t shoot that dog.”

The victim reportedly suffered injuries to her left hand, wrists, right hand, and knee. She was transported to a hospital and was listed in critical condition. The dog died at the scene, though the cause of death is unclear.

The dog’s owner was reportedly present when the attack began but fled the scene and was not present when police arrived.

"She was walking by. The dog was with the owner. And the dog just jumped and attacked her," a witness told CBS News. "Just started pulling her, biting her hands, fingers, chest, face."

"I had residents up there saying, 'Get the dog off of her, get the dog off of her,'" the witnesses added. "A lot of people were going up and trying to pepper spray the dog but it was just still trying to attack the lady."

In a statement to the Daily Mail, San Francisco PD said that “While the dog was being restrained, the dog became unresponsive and was declared deceased on scene.”