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SC Woman Charged After Dog Found Starved and Covered in Maggots

The dog, a mastiff mix named Champ, was more than 50 pounds underweight when deputies found him.
Credit: Laurens County Sheriff's Office
Elizabeth Lena James

LAURENS, SC -- A woman has been arrested in an animal cruelty case involving a starving dog covered in maggots, authorities said Friday.

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Elizabeth Lena James, 30, of Laurens, was charged with ill treatment of an animal, according to jail records and the Laurens County Sheriff's Office.

The dog, a mastiff mix named Champ, was rescued Tuesday night after deputies were notified of an animal cruelty case on Lisborn Road, the Sheriff's Office said.

Credit: Rescue Dogs Rock NYC
Champ the dog was found in Laurens County on Aug. 15, 2018. He had been starved and covered in maggots when he was recovered.

Champ was more than 50 pounds underweight, weak and covered in maggots when he was placed with Rescue Dogs Rock NYC.

A Facebook page called "Justice for Champ" has since been created to raise money for his treatment, the rescue group said.

James was arrested Thursday and booked into the Laurens County Detention Center, jail records show. Her bond was set at $15,000.

“Inhumane treatment of animals will not be tolerated on my watch,” Laurens County Sheriff Don Reynolds said in a release. “No animal should have to go without food and water."

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