Amputee Killed By Dogs After Being Dragged From Wheelchair

A South Carolina amputee who lost both his legs to diabetes years ago was attacked and killed by a pack of dogs earlier this month.

Carlton Freeman, 80, was reportedly going down the side of the road in his wheelchair in Harleyville, S.C., minding his own business on May 8 when four dogs approached him and began biting him and tearing at his clothing. The animals then dragged Freeman from his chair and attacked him.

Emergency services transported Freeman to a local hospital where he later died.

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"Upon my examination of Mr. Freeman, it is a wonder that this gentleman was able to hang on as long as he did," Dorchester County Coroner Chris Nisbet said in a statement. "He had bites and lacerations from his legs to the top of his head. This is very sad story, but even worse that Mr. Freeman was basically helpless to the attack, due to being a bi-lateral amputee."

Neighbors in the area told deputies that they had seen the dogs roaming the neighborhood for months and said Barbara Goodwin, 61, owned the dogs, according to ABC 4. Goodwin reportedly is the owner of three of the dogs — a mother and two puppies — but did not claim the fourth dog, a male.

Deputies were able to catch the three dogs that belong to Goodwin, all of which all had blood on their fur. The fourth dog has not yet been caught.

It wasn't stated what types of dogs were responsible for Freeman’s death, but comments on ABC's story suggested they were pit bulls.

"Pit bulls don't protect family members they destroy families," one person wrote.

"I bet they are pit bulls," someone else posted. "All pit bulls should be outlawed and the live ones put to sleep!"

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But others were offended that pit bulls were automatically assumed to have committed the attack.

"I have three pit bulls and they are the sweetest dogs ever," said one person. "I hate… everyone putting down the breed."

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