(AP) -- YORK, S.C. (AP) - A York County man has been charged with a leash law violation after four alpacas were killed apparently by a pit bulldog at a neighbor's pasture.

The Herald of Rock Hill reported that sheriff's deputies have charged Macilinley Clayton Izzard with allowing a dog to run free.

Mark Barnett says he saw a dog crawling under a fence and saw several of his llama-like animals dead. A veterinarian told Barnett on Thursday the injuries were

consistent with a dog attack. A coyote would have tried to eat them.

Izzard told a deputy he was in the house cooking and realized his pit bull was off the chain. Izzard said he went outside and put the chain back on the dog. A deputy said there was no blood on the dog.

Alpacas are valued for their fleece. Bennett says he's raised the animals for nine years.

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