SOUTH CAROLINA -- A state employee who was attacked by a pair of pit bulls Tuesday in Dillon County remains in critical condition.
The man — whose name is not being released — was an employee of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control and was out on a work-related call when he was attacked by the dogs on Wilderness Place, which is off Highway 9 between Dillon and the Little Rock community, Dillon County Sheriff’s Capt. Cliff Arnett said.
“He was out there on a call and encountered these dogs. They were not in a pen or a fence, as far as we can tell. They were out in the open,” Arnett said.
The man was able to call 911 to report the emergency at some point, Arnett said, but he suffered severe injuries in the attack.
Deputies responded to the call and had to shoot the dogs.
Arnett said his office is investigating the incident to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.
In the meantime, the dogs have been turned over to DHEC for rabies testing.
The victim underwent emergency surgery Tuesday and remains in critical condition, according to family members.
“He will be in an induced coma for a week,” a family member said. “He is in bad shape. Right now, we are just hoping for no infections or complications. He has a long way to go.”
(SCNow - Feb 5, 2014)
