A 53-year-old man was critically injured late Monday night when two pit bull mix dogs attacked him while he was visiting a friend at a residence in Van Zandt County, authorities said. Deputies located and removed a total of 31 dogs from the property after the attack, the sheriff’s office said.

The assault occurred at approximately 11:25 p.m., the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office reported. According to investigators, the man was entering a room inside the home when two male pit bull mix dogs attacked him. Deputies responding to the scene identified the two animals as the dogs responsible for the mauling and discovered 29 additional dogs elsewhere inside the property.

The injured man received emergency care at Christus Mother Frances Emergency Room before being flown by helicopter to UT Medical Center in Tyler for further treatment, local media reported. Coverage from KLTV and other outlets followed the life-flight transfer and provided updates on the man’s condition as he was transported for advanced care.

Sheriff Kevin Bridger provided several details about the immediate law enforcement and animal welfare response. He told reporters the two dogs tied to the attack were not vaccinated. “The dogs responsible for the attack were taken into custody by authorities,” Bridger said, summarizing the department’s actions after securing the scene.

Personnel from the SPCA Response Team worked alongside deputies at the residence to secure and care for the animals, the sheriff’s office said. Investigators processed the scene, then coordinated with animal welfare staff to move the dogs to SPCA facilities for evaluation and sheltering. Of the 31 dogs found on the property, the two male pit bull mixes identified in the attack were taken into custody, and the remaining 29 animals were surrendered to the SPCA for care.

Authorities did not release additional identifying information about the victim or the owner of the residence. The sheriff’s office said its investigators continued to document the scene as part of an active investigation into the circumstances of the attack and the conditions at the property.

Local news organizations, including the Tyler Paper and KETK, reported on the event and the law enforcement response, documenting the timeline from the initial emergency-room treatment to the life-flight transport and the large number of animals removed from the home. Those outlets provided additional context on the movements of deputies and animal welfare teams during the removal and surrender process.

The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that deputies acted promptly to both assist the injured man and address the welfare of the other animals on site. Coordinated efforts between the sheriff’s office and the SPCA Response Team allowed for on-scene veterinary assessment and the transfer of animals to the SPCA for further evaluation and sheltering.

Investigators continue to process evidence and gather information related to the attack, the sheriff’s office said. Officials have not released details on any potential criminal charges or whether additional administrative actions will be pursued regarding the animals or the property where they were kept.

Reporting on the incident cited multiple local sources that followed the emergency transport and the law enforcement operation removing and surrendering the animals. The sheriff’s office reiterated that the priority remained the injured man’s medical care and ensuring the remaining animals received appropriate custody and veterinary attention through the SPCA Response Team.

Authorities encouraged media outlets to follow official releases from the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and the SPCA for any further updates as the investigation proceeds.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.