A Mississippi animal shelter worker was mauled to death by two pit bulls saved from a dog-fighting ring, according to reports.
Clifford Phillips Jr., 57, was attacked and killed while trying to put the dogs into a pen at Second Chance Animal Alliance in Yalobusha County, where he had worked for two years, WREG reported.
“A dog was already in a pen and he was trying to put another dog in there,” a longtime friend, Dudley Woods, told the outlet — saying the horrific July 17 attack was caught on camera.
As one of the dogs tried to escape, Phillips “tried to hold him off with his foot” — just for the dog to bite onto it and pull the staffer down, the friend said of what the footage reportedly showed.
“And then the other dog jumped in with him… and they killed him,” he said,
“They got it all on tape down there.”
Responding cops shot and killed one of the attacking dogs in a bid to get Philips, but were unable to save him, the outlet reported. The other dog was also later euthanized.
The two dogs were a part of a dozen held at the shelter as part of a court-ordered seizure over animal abuse and dog fighting, local outlets reported.
Second Chance Animal Alliance said it had been cooperating with investigators.
“It has been one week since the death at the shelter of our friend and employee Cliff Phillips … While we cannot address every question or rumor we have seen over this past week, we have cooperated with local officials,” the shelter said in a statement.
“Please know that we take the safety and security of our volunteers and employees seriously. We are proud of the work we do in our community and will remain vigilant as we continue to do it.”
Phillips was “quiet, caring and unassuming” and “never met a stranger” because he “loved people,” according to his obituary.
“Cliff enjoyed meeting people and swapping stories about their past experiences and sharing details of his own. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him,” it said
“Cliff loved to read, listened to music, and enjoyed singing — he had a deep singing voice that resonated with his listeners. He loved to sing at his church, Sylva Rena Baptist Church, and was faithful in attendance,” the obituary said.
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