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Police charged a 34-year-old Rock Hill man with cruelty to animals on Thursday after finding his pit bull puppy dead and four other dogs living in harmful conditions outside a Hagins Street home.
A York County animal control officer and a Rock Hill police officer said the puppy died from apparent starvation. They said the other dogs had untreated wounds and were living in unclean crates and chained to trees on leashes less than three foot long, according to a Rock Hill police report.
At least one of the pit bulls had injuries “consistent with fighting another dog,” the report states.
The animal control officer said all the dogs were malnourished and had not been given adequate shelter or restraints.
None of the dogs had food or water, according to a Rock Hill police report.
The puppy’s body was “inside a crate with straw and still attached to a chain,” the report states.
Kenneth Leon Walker told the officers that the puppy was his, the report states, and police arrested Walker Thursday afternoon.
Police are looking for a man who they believe owns the other four dogs. The owner of the other dogs will be charged with four counts of cruelty to animals, the report states.
