A mother-of-two has been mauled to death by her pit bull dogs at a Texas animal shelter where they were being quarantined after biting another person.

Johana Villafane, 33, was attacked by her two dogs at the O'Connor Animal Hospital in Irving on Saturday morning.

The male and female pit bulls were being quarantined at the animal shelter so they could be tested for rabies after biting someone earlier in the week.

Johana Villafane, 33, died on Saturday after she was attacked by her two pit bulls at the O'Connor Animal Hospital in Irving, Texas

Villafane was feeding the dogs and walking them in an exercise area outside when they attacked her.

Staff at the animal shelter found Villafane lying on the ground severely injured.

Shelter staff had tried to rescue Villafane but called police and paramedics when the dogs wouldn't let anyone close to her.

Police said they were forced to fatally shoot the two dogs because their 'continued aggression' was preventing them from getting Villafane medical attention.

Villafane was feeding the dogs and walking them in an exercise area at the animal shelter (above) when they attacked her. Police had to fatally shoot the dogs when they wouldn't let anyone near her

Villafane was rushed to hospital with severe injuries but she later died.

Police said the animal shelter had allowed Villafane to visit her two dogs while they were in quarantine.

The dogs had gotten loose earlier in the week and bitten someone else.

Detectives and the department's animal services division is investigating Villafane's death.