TIFTON, Ga. (WALB) — The Georgia Department of Natural Resources says rescue animals that died at a Tifton wildlife facility were killed by two dogs, not gunshots, despite claims circulating on social media.

Lt. Bubba Stanford of Georgia DNR Law Enforcement said the agency’s investigation found no evidence the animals were shot.

“Nothing in our investigation has determined that these animals were shot,” Stanford said. “They had hemorrhaging, trauma from the attack, a lot of damage to them. The wounds that initially a lot of people thought to be gunshot wounds were actually puncture wounds.”

Stanford said the two dogs were shot after the attack occurred.

“They were shot by Steadfast workers,” he said. “We do not know who the dogs belong to. I do know the dogs were— later on, eventually came back to the property and were shot in defense of some of the workers there at the property.”

Stanford said the Tift County Sheriff’s Office and animal control confirmed the dogs did not have chips to identify their owner.

Owner charged with security violation

The owner of Steadfast Wildlife Rescue was charged with failing to provide secure fencing — a violation officials say allowed the dogs to enter the property. Stanford said the facility had not failed DNR inspections prior to this incident.

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Owner charged for enclosure violation in Tifton wildlife rehab center animal death investigation <<

“There was definitely issues with the security there of which we, you know, we dealt with,” Stanford said. “I have full confidence that she’s going to do her very best to secure the facility better than it was.”

Owner accepts findings, raises questions

Steadfast Wildlife Rescue Rehab owner Jessica Pisciotta said she accepts the DNR’s findings but questions why investigators initially suggested the animals may have been shot.

“They are my superiors. So I completely agree with what they say,” Pisciotta said. “But what I don’t agree with is the initial investigators that were here that told the people on scene that they were shot. Because that is where it originally started.”

Stanford said he hopes necessary changes are made so the rescue center can continue operations.

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