Animal Rescuer Arrives To Look Into Report Of Dogs Shot At Landfill

An animal rights activist from Long Island, N.Y., arrived at Charlotte-Douglas Airport on Friday night and demanded action be taken against the people who may have shot and killed dogs at a landfill in Chesterfield County, S.C.

Whitney Knowlton, an activist with Last Chance Animal Rescue, traveled to the Queen City after hearing accusations that Chesterfield County animal control officers shot almost two dozen dogs Friday morning and dumped them in a nearby landfill.

Knowlton was notified by Deborah Farhi, a volunteer who picks up dogs from the county's animal shelter and turns them over to the rescue group.

Knowlton told Eyewitness News shortly after arriving in Charlotte that she's had concerns about the treatment of dogs at the shelter for the last couple of years. After this morning's discovery, she wants the county to take action now.

"The people who murdered them need to be held accountable and punished to the fullest extent of the law," Knowlton said.

Fahri received a tip about the dogs Friday morning. She said she took a shovel to the landfill to look for proof.

Fahri said she found dead dogs and took pictures of them.

"I could've dropped to my knees," said Fahri. "I felt very betrayed because we were working very closely with animal control and we thought we had a good relationship with them."

RAW INTERVIEW: Animal Rights Activist Talks About Finding Dead Dogs In Landfill

Bryan Burch, animal control director for Chesterfield County, said he was not allowed to comment.

Animal rights activists planned to hold a news conference at the animal shelter Saturday afternoon to lay out their specific concerns over the years and detail the action they hope the county will take now.