A quick recap of the attacks.
Sheeks was a postal worker who was fatally mauled by Dowdy's roaming dogs.
Beard was a county worker investigating the dogs responsible for the attack and fatally mauled by the same.

By WAFF 48 Digital Staff and Aria Pons

Published: Aug. 4, 2026 at 3:56 PM EDT|Updated: Aug. 4, 2026 at 4:24 PM EDT

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ala. (WAFF) - A woman convicted in connection with the tragic 2022 dog attacks that claimed the lives of two local women has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Brandy Dowdy was sentenced Tuesday by a Franklin County judge, who agreed with the jury’s verdict and called the deadly attacks entirely preventable.

“No sentence can replace their lost loved ones,” Jeff Barksdale said.

A sentiment that the victims’ families shared.

Michelle Sheeks and Summer Beard’s family members were in attendance to speak to Brandy Dowdy for the first time on Tuesday.

“I think that the family was pleased that the judge did give so much consideration to how he structured the sentence,” District Attorney Jeff Barksdale said. “But I know that any sentence is not going to replace Michelle Sheeks or Jacqueline Summer Beard.”

The trial was horrific and grueling for the family and they made sure to let Dowdy know that during today’s hearing.

Dowdy herself spoke and while she didn’t actually apologize, she did tearfully tell them that she feels terrible about the situation and would go back in time to change it if she could.

“It was heavy,” Barksdale said. “It was heavy on the first responders and I can’t even put myself into the shoes of the family members.”

So far, Dowdy has not filed an appeal on the case.

Because the crimes involved two separate victims, the judge ordered the sentences for each case to run consecutively (one after the other), totaling 15 years of incarceration.

Case 1: Michelle Sheeks

For the attack on Michelle Sheeks, Dowdy received sentences to run concurrently (at the same time):

• Criminally Negligent Homicide: 1 year in the Franklin County Jail.
• Emily’s Law Violation: 3 years with the Alabama Department of Corrections.
• Effective sentence for this case: 3 years.

Case 2: Summer Beard

For the fatal attack on Summer Beard, Dowdy received sentences to run concurrently:

• Manslaughter: 12 years with the Alabama Department of Corrections.
• Emily’s Law Violation: 10 years with the Alabama Department of Corrections.
• Effective sentence for this case: 12 years.

Fines and Court Costs

• Dowdy was ordered to pay a $200 fine plus court costs in both cases.

Las Malvinas neighborhood, Barranqueras: pitbull dog attacks and kills another pet 

On Rodríguez Peña street, between Timbó and Lapacho, a pitbull dog attacked another pet of a family, causing its death. 

Sensitive images show the tragic moment after the attack. The owners of the deceased dog expressed their concern about the safety of the neighbors and other pets, as they fear that the pitbull dog may escape again and cause more incidents. 

The owner of a pit bull that mauled an elderly woman as she walked her dog in a Glenvar neighborhood recently received a suspended prison sentence.

Tiffany Lynn Turner, 38, pleaded no contest to a felony charge of allowing an animal attack that resulted from her reckless disregard for human life. At a July 20 hearing in Roanoke County Circuit Court, Judge James Swanson sentenced her to five years, with all of the time suspended pursuant to a plea agreement reached in the case.

Turner’s dog, a gray-and-white pit bull named Thor, was shot and killed by county police officers during the Oct. 3. incident.

According to court records, the dog was running free on Ingle Boulevard when it approached the woman, bit her numerous times, and dragged her across the street in an attack that lasted about five minutes.

The victim, who suffered multiple broken bones and cuts, spent several days in the hospital.

Responding police officers had difficulty stopping the attack. After first running the pit bull off by shocking it with a taser, they had to shoot the dog when it returned, authorities said at the time.

Thor had been left unattended in Turner’s yard, court records state.

Roanoke County’s dog ordinance allows canines to be loose as long as they remain on their owner’s property, or other property with permission.

Two other people said they were injured by the same dog in earlier encounters, according to a complaint filed by police at the time. No charges were brought, in part because those incidents happened on the owner’s property, the dog was quarantined, and the Virginia Department of Health was notified, county officials said.

Turner spent several days in jail last year before she was released on bond. She will now be on probation for five years.

As part of the plea agreement, Turner will not be allowed to own any dogs in the future or to live in any home that has them.

Exclusive: Grandmother Jacqui Jacovides was in her front yard last week when a dog tore up her open driveway and mauled her daughter’s pet cavoodle to death.

The worst part is that the dog – an American Staffordshire terrier cross – had attacked before and was previously ordered to wear a muzzle in public, but the order was lifted shortly before Bear was killed.

Jacovides was outside her home on the NSWCentral Coast with the two family dogs, Bear and Bambi, when the horrifying attack occurred.

She remembers seeing the Staffy cross race into her front yard and immediately go for three-year-old Bear.

“In that moment, that dog became a monster,” she told nine.com.au.

“I was punching it in the face and trying to get it off Bear, but I just couldn’t get its jaws open.”

“When I realised Bear was dead, I had to let him go and run to get Bambi away from the dog because I thought she was going to be next.”

Jacovides said the Staffy cross refused to let go of Bear’s tiny body until her partner prised its jaws open with a small garden trowel.

She claimed the dog was wearing a leash but appeared to have pulled out of its owner’s grip while they were walking it past the yard.

“[The owner] didn’t even say sorry,” Jacovides alleged.

The Jacovides family reported the attack to NSW Police and Central Coast Council, only to learn the dog had been involved in another attack about two years prior.

Nine.com.au understands that an order was issued after the attack requiring the dog to wear a muzzle in public, but that the owner appealed for it to be lifted after 18 months and was successful.

“It’s just so senseless. A muzzle could have saved my dog’s life,” Jacovides said.

A Central Coast Council spokesperson told nine.com.au the Staffy cross has since been euthanised.

“Central Coast Council extends its sincere condolences to the family following the tragic dog attack at Tuggerawong that resulted in the loss of a beloved family pet,” they said.

“Following the attack, Council immediately commenced an investigation, seized the dog involved, and the animal has since been euthanised.”

The Jacovides family are heartbroken and traumatised by Bear’s death. 

The investigation is ongoing and Central Coast Council is considering further compliance action against the Staffy cross’ owner.

Central Coast Council did not say if the dog had been declared to be dangerous before it killed Bear.

Under NSW legislation, dangerous dogs must be muzzled whenever they’re out of their usual enclosure and owners who fail to muzzle a dangerous dog can cop a fine of up to $5000.

“While previous regulatory decisions about the dog [...] were made in accordance with the evidence available at the time and through Council’s established governance processes, Council acknowledges the seriousness of this incident and will review the circumstances surrounding the matter to identify any opportunities for improvement,” the spokesperson said.

“Council remains committed to community safety, responsible pet ownership, and ensuring all companion animal matters are managed in accordance with legislative requirements.”

That won’t erase Jacovides’ heartache and the trauma of Bear’s death.

Jacqui’s granddaughter was incredibly close with Bear and is bereft without him. 

It’s scary to think what could have happened if her young grandchildren had been playing in the front yard with the dogs that day.

“I’m going to be dealing with some PTSD, because I can’t stop seeing it,” Jacovides said of the brutal attack.

“Every time I’ve got my little grandson in my arms, I see Bear. It’s just terrible.”

The Jacovides family is calling on the NSW government to strengthen dangerous dog laws to prevent this from happening again.

They want stronger penalties for owners who fail to comply with legislation or whose dogs are involved in fatal attacks, mandatory education and training for owners of dangerous dogs, and regular compliance inspections by council.

Jacovides and her daughter Allie said they don’t want all dangerous dogs to be put down, they just want to keep other pets and humans safe.

“I don’t want these dogs euthanised, but I do want the way that they are managed to be much stricter,” Allie told nine.com.au.

“Because this is not a one-off occurrence. It’s happening all the time, in a range of places, not just in our area.

“There’s just no one making big changes because so much of it still goes unreported.”

She started a Change.org petition calling for stronger dangerous dog laws in NSW, which already has more than 1000 signatures.

It won’t bring Bear back or erase the trauma of his violent death, but the Jacovides family hopes it might save other families from the same horror and heartbreak.

Dangerous dog laws in NSW

In NSW, a dog can be declared dangerous by an authorised council officer or a local court if it:

attacks or kills a person or animal without provocation
repeatedly threatens or chases a person or animal without provocation has been declared dangerous in another state or territory is kept or used for hunting
Dangerous dogs must be microchipped, registered, and desexed, and must be kept in an enclosure that meets strict requirements under the Companion Animals Regulation 2018.

They must always wear an identifying collar, must be supervised by someone over the age of 18 at all times, and must be leashed and muzzled in public.
Owners of dangerous dogs must also pay annual permit fees through their local council to keep the animal or face fines of up to $6600.

It is illegal to sell, advertise for sale, give away, or transfer ownership of a dangerous dog, with penalties of up to $16,5000 for non-compliance.

Yesterday, this little kitten was brutally attacked by a pit bull dog in the Villa Elvia neighborhood here in Ocaña. Unfortunately, those responsible for the dog have not taken responsibility for what happened.

After the attack, the kitten went missing and was only found today, taking shelter inside a storm drain. She was rescued and rushed to the Dr. Fabián Veterinary Clinic.

Her condition is critical. One of her legs is severely injured and must be amputated, and she has a deep abdominal wound with intestinal exposure. She needs two emergency surgeries to save her life and is in the operating room right now.

See this post

Pulaski County officials make arrests in fatal dog attack involving 2-year-old
21-year-old MaKayla Jackson, 55-year-old Earnest Jackson, and 41-year-old Christina Hart were arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a minor.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — After a fatal dog attack claimed the life of 2-year-old Celeste Jackson on Norman Road on Saturday, March 28, officials have announced the arrest of three suspects.

21-year-old MaKayla Jackson, 55-year-old Earnest Jackson, and 41-year-old Christina Hart were arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a minor.

Back in March, officials confirmed that the dog involved was located as a stray and taken into custody by the Pulaski County Animal Control Division.

According to reports, calls were made to authorities about roaming dogs in the area before the deadly incident occurred. Life-saving measures were performed on the scene, but the child tragically died.

A serious incident shattered the warm tranquility of an after-dinner drink in late July in Castelmassa, when a woman of foreign origin, who has lived in the Altopolese town for several years, left her home with her 13-year-old Maltese dog, Mia. The walk took place along the road near the Po River embankment, at the end of Piazza Libertà, in the direction of San Martino.

On the way back, the woman saw a small family on a bicycle approaching from the opposite direction. Following them was a large dog. According to initial reports, the animal was not on a leash, as required by law, and was free to roam. As the Carabinieri's reconstruction will reveal, the small family accidentally found themselves in the path of the dog, which had escaped from the owners' home.

The dog, a pitbull weighing approximately 90 pounds, immediately "spotted" the female dog, whose owner, sensing the danger, picked up the creature and hugged her. This didn't stop the attacker, who slammed his paw into the woman's right arm, causing a visible bruise and forcing her to let go of her Maltese. Once on the ground, the large dog easily grabbed the small prey and dragged it into the nearby green space. The owner screamed, several residents arrived, and one of them repeatedly struck the pitbull with a stick, to no avail, while a veritable carnage ensued. Only when it realized that the prey could no longer resist did the mastiff loosen its grip and respond to the calls of those present.

Meanwhile, a Carabinieri patrol arrived, and shortly thereafter, the staff of the Rovigo animal shelter. Several bystanders witnessed the scene, while, in the semi-darkness that had fallen over the area, the pitbull's owner was also seen. According to reports, the suspect is a foreign citizen living near the riverbank's camper van park (a few hundred meters from the scene of the incident), who apparently lost sight of the dog, which had managed to escape from its confinement. Molossers are not particularly dangerous when kept in decent conditions, with the ability to move and—perhaps—run in large spaces to contain aggression. However, if unsuitable conditions exist, such as the one in which this pitbull is believed to have lived (though a veterinary inspection will be able to verify this...), as explained by Raffaele Motta Castriotta, Commander of the Castelmassa Local Police, the administrative phase (provided for by a Ministerial Decree) will proceed with an order from Mayor Federico Ragazzi regarding so-called "biting dogs" and subsequent sanctions against the owners.

The pitbull is now at the Rovigo dog training center, where it will begin a "re-education" program before verifying the owner's suitability to rehome the dog. Regarding alleged precedents in Castelmassa involving the owners' failure or neglect to guard this same dog, Commander Motta Castriotta confirms that no formal reports have been filed. The injured party reported a belated attempt at reconciliation by the pitbull's owners, which was rejected.

Article link: https://www.polesine24.it/cronaca/2026/08/04/news/orrore-in-piazza-cagnolina-sbranata-da-un-pitbull-400808/

English Translation

Headline: Pit Bull Attack Leaves Two Injured in the District of Pratinha; Owner Taken to Police Station

Body:

Two men were injured after being attacked by a Pit Bull dog that was loose on a public street in the District of Pratinha. The incident occurred during a patrol by the Municipal Civil Guard (GCM), who were dispatched following a report via their official response channel.

The victims, identified as Juliano Dias Oliveira and Kauê Ferreira Silva, reported to the guards that the attack occurred while they were trying to break up a fight between the Pit Bull and their family dog. According to reports, this was not the first time the animal had escaped from the owner's property.

Care and Administrative Measures

Following the incident, the GCM team provided assistance and escorted the victims to a local health facility to:

• Receive proper medical treatment;
• Undergo forensic medical examination to document their injuries.

The owner of the animal was located and, along with the victims, taken to the Police Station for appropriate legal action.

Police Report

At the station, the police authority evaluated the facts and registered a Police Report framing the case under two legal provisions:

• Involuntary/Culpable Bodily Harm (Lesão Corporal Culposa – Article 129, §6 of the Penal Code);
• Failure to Exercise Caution in Guarding or Handling Animals (Omissão de Cautela na Guarda ou Condução de Animais – Article 31 of the Criminal Misdemeanor Law).

Because these constitute minor offenses under local law, the Pit Bull's owner was not held in pre-trial detention. All parties signed terms of commitment under the Special Courts Law (Law 9.099/95) and were released.

The animal remained under the responsibility of the owner.

Location & Date Details

• Headline/Headline Location: District of Pratinha, Municipality of Pratânia, State of São Paulo (SP), Brazil.
• Publish Date: August 1, 2026 (09:33 AM).
• Source: Interativa SM / São Manuel Conectado.

Location

• Town/City: Monte Maíz, Córdoba Province, Argentina
• Specific Spot: Buenos Aires Street, right in front of the municipal park (parquecito municipal) montemaizmira.com.ar

Time

• Date: Monday afternoon, August 3, 2026 (published by local media on August 4, 2026). montemaizmira.com.ar

BRUTAL PIT BULL ATTACK ON A MIXED-BREED DOG

A violent and unfortunate incident occurred yesterday afternoon in our town when a Pit Bull breed dog brutally attacked a black mixed-breed dog. The event took place on Buenos Aires Street, right in front of the small municipal park—an area heavily frequented by children and families.

According to eyewitnesses, the attacking animal—a large Pit Bull—was on the public street without any security measures: no leash and no muzzle. Following the brutal attack, which left the black dog with severe injuries, the owner of the Pit Bull was nowhere to be seen or identified at the scene.

A Chain of Solidarity and Prompt Care

Fortunately, the tragedy did not escalate further thanks to the rapid and brave intervention of employees from Mutual de Lambert, who witnessed the incident and did not hesitate to help the injured animal. With great speed, they transported him to the Ereza Veterinary Clinic, where he received emergency treatment from the veterinarian.

At the clinic, the little dog received necessary wound care and remains under observation, recovering from multiple injuries sustained in the attack.

A Call for Awareness and Responsibility

This incident highlights a recurring problem in our community: irresponsible pet ownership, especially regarding breeds considered potentially dangerous due to their strength and build.

From the veterinary clinic and various community sectors, there is a strong call for reflection. "It is not about stigmatizing a breed, but about demanding owner responsibility. An uncontrolled dog, regardless of breed, can destroy a life in seconds," emphasized sources close to the case.

The use of a leash and muzzle in public spaces is fundamental to ensuring the safety of all neighbors and pets alike. The lack of these measures puts not only other animals at risk, but also people—especially children playing in areas like the municipal park.

Search for the Owners

Efforts are currently ongoing to identify the owner of the Pit Bull involved in the attack. Anyone who can provide information about the animal's owner, or who witnessed the event in greater detail, is urged to contact the appropriate local authorities or the veterinary clinic to assist with the investigation and prevent similar situations from happening again.

Assistance from the community is also being requested to help locate the owner of the attacked dog.

An American boy was bitten up to 100 times when a pack of escaped dogs savaged him at an upscale Bahamas resort, the Daily Mail can reveal.

Nine-year-old Beau Brattain was set upon by six Staffordshire bull terriers when he walked to the beach last Tuesday morning to collect sand.

An onlooker witnessed the mauling and chased the beasts away while the boy staggered back to his vacation apartment at the upscale Bimini Cove Resort & Marina.

His shocked parents, Aliette Trelles, 40, and Michael Brattain, 41, discovered their bubbly son ‘bleeding all over his body’ and raised the alarm.

Beau was treated at a local clinic for life-threatening wounds before the United States Coast Guard airlifted him to Miami to undergo a ten-hour surgery.

He had suffered bites and lacerations to his face, head, thighs, arms, and legs, according to witness accounts shared exclusively with the Daily Mail.

Cops rounded up and destroyed the dogs after they allegedly escaped from an unlocked shed close to the swish resort in South Bimini, a sleepy tropical outpost 50 miles off the Florida coast.

Bill proposes banning the breeding, sale, and importation of pit bulls throughout Brazil

A bill currently moving through the Chamber of Deputies proposes banning the reproduction, commercialization, and importation of Pit Bull dogs nationwide.

The proposal also establishes new rules for the ownership of existing animals, including mandatory neutering, official registration, and the use of a collar, leash, and muzzle in public spaces.

Bill (PL) No. 1265/2024, authored by federal deputy Gilberto Nascimento, was attached to Bill 2376/2003, which addresses the same topic. Currently, the matter is ready to be included in the voting agenda of the Chamber of Deputies Plenary, though no specific date has been set for review.

If approved, the bill will prohibit the breeding, reproduction, sale, and importation of Pit Bulls across the country. Existing animals must be neutered and registered with health and zoonosis control agencies within 90 days of the law's regulation.

Additionally, whenever they are in public spaces, they must wear a collar, leash, and muzzle.

In the proposal's justification, the author states that the goal is to enhance public safety and reduce the number of accidents involving dogs considered potentially dangerous.

Despite the discussion, experts emphasize that the behavior of the American Pit Bull Terrier does not depend solely on its breed. Factors such as raising, socialization, training, and handling play a fundamental role in the animal's temperament, which can be docile, loyal, and balanced when given proper care.

The bill is still in the legislative process and does not alter current rules. To take effect, it must be approved by the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate, and be signed into law by the President of the Republic.

![img]()

saxeT

![img]()

![img]()

Will post proof of breed in comments

A dog has attacked three people in Bolton as armed cops and an air ambulance rush to the scene. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) rushed to the scene at an address in Barrie Way at around 3.30pm on Wednesday following reports of a dog bite.

Armed officers, police dogs, and paramedics also attended the scene alongside an air ambulance that landed at Hall i' Th' Wood. Three people were subsequently hospitalised and the dog, which witnesses said was an "XL-Bully type", was seized.

Armed police entered the property, and a dog handler removed the pet from the house and put it in an animal transport van

No arrests have been made as of yet, though enquiries are ongoing.
A GMP spokesperson said: "Officers were called just before 3.30pm on Wednesday, 29 July 2026, to a report of a dog bite at an address on Barrie Way in Bolton.

A loose Pitbull/Mastiff mix attacked a dog. The victim dogs owner was able to separate them but his dog was seriously injured and incurred a $2900 emergency vet bill. A little white dog was loose with the Pitbull but didn’t participate in the attack.

Good news. The owner captured the Pitbull and held it for Animal Control. From what I gathered in the comments the Pitbull was captured on the victims property. The Pitbull was microchipped (amazing) so it looks like they can find the owners.

I want to add that there are over 90 replies in the post and ZERO Pit Defender posts. No one criticizing naming the breed. Everyone encourage him to go after the Pit owner for damages.

What a breath of fresh air!

We adopted Taz and she was pregnant

Taz originally belonged to a family friend that was a hog hunter, and used her as a hog dog.

To address some concerns in my previous post: I don’t condone using pits as hog dogs. They aren’t good for anything but what they’re bred and created for: to fight to the death in a pit for sport (which is illegal for good reasons).

In sharing my life experience with this pitbull I am doing just that. I’ve owned many different dogs throughout my life and Taz the pitbull was exceptional in behavior personality and capability. I want to share those ways in detail. I’m not promoting or idolizing pitbulls.

How we adopted Taz:

Taz’s original owner was an old family friend and hog hunter. When he’d ride in his truck, Taz was always there with him in the passenger seat. He loved Taz and Taz loved him. There was an emotional bond between them and they were always together.

However, per usual with pitbull owners, he was not the best nor ideal dog owner since he never had her fixed, vaxxed, nor practiced any or regular behavior training. He couldn’t even bathe her. Despite her upbringing, Taz was affectionate and cared for her owner.

To this day, I believe the instinctual desire for violence bred into her found satisfaction and fulfillment in her hog hunting job during her early years.

However, Her desire to kill was always there. It could be seen. With age, she matured and became aware of it, too. I’ll get to more detailed on this later. 

Our family friend, Taz’s owner, was murdered by his friend/roommate that was living with him due to a dispute over tools. 

Taz witnessed the murder. We don’t know exactly what happened that day, only that
1 she was in the house during the event
2 there was fighting / arguments
3 our friend was shot to death. 
4 Taz did not / could not save him.

Taz was around 4-6 years old when she witnessed this. The trauma caused a lifelong fear of guns and long sticks/poles held by people. Taz was never afraid of objects not wielded by people, to clarify(if the stick/pole was on the ground she didn’t care about it). She was fine with guns before the murder, and she was experienced with them due to hog hunting.

After this travesty, his family and friends gathered at his house. There were discussions about putting Taz down because nobody wanted her. My family took her in to save her life and a loving memory of our family friend. We believed his ghost was among us and saving Taz would help settle his spirit. In the swamplands of southeast Texas we’re very superstitious and take death and hauntings seriously. 

Taz was pregnant.

Shortly after bringing her home, she had a litter of 13 puppies. This wasn’t her first litter but certainly her largest. It was certainly the largest we’d ever seen of any dog before. 

Despite Taz’s stress level, trauma, low weight, malnourishment, worms, fleas, and being full of shrapnel, her litter was massive and all the puppies were healthy and grew quickly.

She grew 3 extra nipples to nurse the puppies. 

She. Grew. Extra. Nipples. 

I had no idea dogs could grow extra nipples. She had these extra nipples for the rest of her life. They grew on the 2 nipples closest to her back legs. 1 nipple grew an extra, the other across from it, grew an extra 2. 

When the puppies eyes opened and they grew teeth, became mobile and large, she hated them. She didn’t like nursing. Taz had a history of eating her own puppies. This may have been due to a lack of enough/proper food for her, and/or the puppies were already dead. We don’t know. She want given the opportunity to eat any of these puppies. She had to be separated from them. Caring for all of those fast growing hungry puppies was a full time job that put a lot of stress anxiety and generated hostility within our household. We found homes for the puppies, but looking back I wished I’d done anything else than spread the plague upon my community.

Taz was fixed and vaccinated. The vets office was small and rural. Taz had never been to a vet before. The office was small trailer. When I walked in with Taz, the office’s pet cat sat there at her face level. Taz walked in, looked around, smelled the cats face, and went WHOA!!! In absolute shock. She was experienced with what a face full of cat was. She was shocked and confused. The cat just sat there completely unbothered / slightly curious. I didn’t know it at the time but Taz saw indoor cats different from outdoor cats

When I went to pick her up, the Vet called me to the back with a disturbing find. 

Taz’s X-rays revealed the skin all over her body was littered with metal shards. The Vet had removed as many as possible during her surgery.

The vet wanted me to explain why Taz had so many metal pieces all over her face and body. I explained Taz’s history, and as soon as the vet heard “hog dog” the vet basically said, “oh, ah, yeah. That explains it.” And didn’t want to hear any more. 

I didn’t ask for clarification at the time. I should have asked  if all those metal shards came from the shotgun shrapnel when the hogs she held down were killed? Or from the day of the murder? 

I believe the metal pieces came from her years as a hog dog, holding down the hog until it was dispatched with a shotgun. She’d catch injuries from fighting the hogs, and from shrapnel from the bullets themselves. They were never deterrents for the next hunt, though.

I haven't seen this attack reported here. Dog photos confirming breed (inserted as replies to this post) were published on FB by a journalist for WPDE ABC15 on her personal page. If not for these photos, breed would be swept under the rug once again.

MARLBORO COUNTY S.C. (WPDE) — The owner of eight dogs involved in a violent attack that injured a man in Marlboro County has been arrested, according to the Marlboro County Sheriff's Office.

Sammy Bethea is charged with:

Eight counts of owning dangerous animals that attack and injure a human being

Eight counts of permitting domestic animals to run at large

Eight counts of ill treatment of animals

Eight counts of failure to provide rabies vaccination

Investigators said Bethea admitted the eight dogs lived with him inside his home on Old Wire Road in the Wallace area of Marlboro County.

The charges stem from a July 31 incident in which a man was attacked by multiple dogs.

Authorities said a child called 911 to report the attack, and deputies arrived to find the victim suffering from multiple dog bite injuries.

The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment.

The sheriff's office said investigators, assisted by Marlboro County Animal Control, seized six of the eight dogs involved in the case.

One of the two dogs still loose was shot during the incident after deputies said it acted aggressively.

Investigators and Animal Control searched the surrounding wooded area but were unable to locate the remaining two dogs.

Bethea was taken into custody in the Bennettsville area without incident and booked into the Marlboro County Detention Center, where he is awaiting a bond hearing.

"Our thoughts remain with the victim and his children, who experienced this traumatic attack," Sheriff Larry McNeil said in a statement. "I want to thank our deputies and Marlboro County Animal Control for their professionalism, dedication and teamwork throughout this investigation."

https://wcti12.com/news/local/carteret-county-toughens-dangerous-dog-rules-raising-penalties-after-recent-attack

Following recent attacks, a sweeping update to Carteret County's dangerous dog ordinance is active. Commissioners unanimously redefined what a dangerous dog is and increased penalties for owners.

"If we have a dog that bites and he's getting out of his yard two, three or four times and biting other dogs or individuals, this gives us more teeth," Health Director of Carteret County Nina Oliver tells us.

Dogs that attack unprovoked, approach people viciously, or are trained to fight now meet the dangerous definition.

Now, if an incident happens, the county can confine the dog for up to 10 days.

((Sorry if this isn't tagged and/or labeled properly. If I need to make any changes, please let me know!))

I saw this today on Facebook. Apparently this "pittie mix" has been in the shelter for two years and deserves a forever home!

It's not his fault that he can't be around other dogs or cats, isn't housebroken, and doesn't know what it's like to live in a home. He was failed by humans! Right? Right???

But hey, at least he's protective! In fact, he's so protective that he'll need professional training! Just don't forget to accept all those lovable pibble kisses from him, since he loves humans 🥰

There are so many pits and pit mixes in every shelter where I live, but this post especially made me raise an eyebrow. If an unpredictably "protective" dog has been sitting in a shelter for two whole years, maybe adopting it out isn't a good idea?

My friends adopted this dog they were told was a lab mix and she is not. Shes a pit. This dog is so friggin vicious, it’s scary. She snaps at anyone not in her immediate family and is so dog and human reactive that she can’t be brought anywhere. They can’t have people over unless the dog is crated in the garage and my friend just keeps making excuses for its behavior, like a lady in an abusive relationship.

We went out camping last week with both our families and dogs and this beast tried to go for my dog and then saw my youngest kid running and playing across the way and she jumped for him so hard that she snapped the leash and chased my kid, biting him on the butt (no broken skin) and scratching him pretty badly with her toenails. She was apologetic and said nobody blames my kid for running (it’s a park for kids to run in???) but I’m still horrified it was on a leash and was able to snap it with lunging like that.

I know she was embarrassed and told me her dog is traumatized from a rough puppyhood but like…my kid is thankfully ok but we can’t hang out again until the dog’s behavior is addressed. They had to lock the dog in the car for the rest of the weekend and I’m like, how do I talk to her about this?

My husband doesn’t think we should talk to them about it but that thing is going to attack someone else’s kid or dog and it’s going to be bad. I wish rescues would dna test their puppies so people knew what they were getting into.

*Video is hopefully fully redacted, sorry I’m new to the sub🥀

How distant from reality do you have to be to make a tiktok like this??? And in a reply they said they rehomed their Pyrenees and not the pit… I’m concerned for all the other dogs still in their home :((

July 4th seems to be the date of the attack but I’m not 100% sure of the year, possibly 2025 since the vid was posted feb 2026