Dog Attack May Have Revealed Dogfighting Ring

Deputies found 14 dogs at the South Carolina property where woman was mauled
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 20, 2020 10:20 AM CST
Dog Mauls Woman, Perhaps Reveals Dogfighting Ring
Stock photo.   (Getty Images / MattGush)

A 71-year-old woman was helping to take care of a family member's 14 dogs when one of them attacked her—and in investigating the mauling, police think they've uncovered an illegal dogfighting ring. Deputies responded Saturday to a 911 call from the York County, SC, property and found the woman on the ground, having been attacked by a pit bull that had somehow gotten loose, ABC News reports. She was taken via helicopter to a hospital, and deputies found the other dogs—plus "evidence of state violations of the dogs being improperly restrained, aggressive, and lacking adequate food, water, and shelter," the York County Sheriff's Office says in a statement. "Code enforcement officers are also investigating the possibility the animals were used for fighting."

"This incident speaks to the viciousness and violent nature of raising animals for the purpose of fighting and unfortunately caused very serious and unnecessary harm to an innocent and unintended victim," the sheriff says in the statement. "This activity is cruel, unnecessary, and criminal." York County Animal Control has all the dogs as the police investigation continues. There's no word on the woman's condition. (More dog fighting stories.)

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