Pit bull found dumped along road in Rock Hill had injuries from fighting

ROCK HILL, S.C. — A Rock Hill woman said she found a pit bull dead outside her job off Ogden Road Wednesday and called police.

[Deputies: Man charged after 42 pit bulls seized from possible dogfighting operation]

Officers said the dog had obvious injuries from fighting and was dumped on the side of the road.

The woman, who did not want to be identified, showed Channel 9’s South Carolina bureau reporter Greg Suskin a folder full of photos of other dogs she's found over the years, either dead or badly hurt.

Sarah Levans rescues pit bulls from fighting.

She saved more than 100 dogs in the 10 years she's lived in Rock Hill and said incidents like this, still upset her.

"I'm super disheartened by it of course, but unfortunately I'm not surprised," Levans said.

She showed Channel 9 her pit bull, Scarlet. Levans rescued Scarlet from fighting and the dog still has visible scars on her face.

Levans runs a rescue called Halfway There, which saves dogs from often horrible circumstances and conditions.

Usually when a stray pit bull is found, it's a fighting victim.

"Fifty percent of them have life-threatening injuries. The other half are found dead," she said.

Animal advocates asked Channel 9 not to name the exact location where the pit bull was found dead because they want police to catch those responsible.

[ALSO READ: More than 20 dogs found in deplorable conditions inside Concord home]

Officials said it's clear there is dog fighting in the area and the road is a dumping ground.

The people who abandon fighting dogs this way, are rarely caught.

Levans urges anyone who sees a dog that looks injured from fighting to call police -- something, few people do.

"This is a recurring problem.  I feel like a broken record talking to you," she said.

Experts said people should be on alert for sounds of fighting, along with trucks parked on rural property with cages or large pens in the bed.

Cox Media Group