Fourteen goats were killed and three others injured after one or more dogs attacked a farm on Ward Holler Road in Henderson County on Tuesday, authorities said.

Deputies with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office responded to the property after receiving reports of injured livestock and opened an investigation into the incident, which left multiple animals dead and wounded on the single property, the sheriff’s office said.

When deputies arrived at the farm on Ward Holler Road, they encountered the scene and the owner of the goats shot and killed one of the dogs involved in the attack, the sheriff’s office statement said. “The owner of the goats shot and killed one of the dogs involved. All leads have been exhausted in locating the other,” the office added.

The dog that died did not have identification and was taken into custody by a local shelter, the sheriff’s office said. Deputies remained at the scene on Tuesday as they gathered information and worked to determine the circumstances that led to the goats being harmed.

Authorities described the loss of livestock as concentrated on the single Ward Holler Road property. Deputies conducted an initial, on-site inquiry, documenting the animals affected and securing the scene while continuing to collect evidence and interview witnesses, according to the office. Local media outlets reported on the incident.

Officials said three goats were injured in the attack; those animals were found alive on the property. The sheriff’s office did not provide further details about the extent of the injuries or any veterinary treatment provided, noting only that investigators were continuing to work to clarify how the incident unfolded.

The sheriff’s office statement emphasized that deputies were pursuing information about the animals involved and following leads developed during the response. The office said all available leads had been exhausted in locating any other dog or dogs believed to have been involved, while the investigation remained open.

at the scene as part of a preliminary inquiry—documenting the scene, identifying and accounting for the livestock, and turning custody of the deceased, unidentified dog over to a local shelter. Beyond that, the office said investigators would continue to gather and review information to determine the full sequence of events leading up to the attack.

The sheriff’s office did not release the name of the farm or the goat owner, nor did it identify the shelter that took custody of the dog. Officials also did not provide additional details about whether the dog that was killed had been reported missing or whether it was living in the area prior to the attack.

As of the latest statement from deputies, the case remained under active investigation. Authorities asked anyone with information about the incident or who may have seen dogs in the area around Ward Holler Road on Tuesday to contact the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office to aid investigators in determining how the animals came to be harmed.

The sheriff’s office reiterated that the matter was being handled as an ongoing investigation and that deputies would continue to follow leads and collect evidence as they work to establish what occurred on the property during the attack.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.