The Long County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a homeowner after a deputy responding to a brush fire Monday afternoon discovered 22 Pitt Bulls tethered to trees in the wood line.

According to Sheriff Craig Nobles, the dogs were discovered tied to trees in the wood line when the deputy and Long County fire department responded to a brush fire on the 300 block of Narcy Stafford Road shortly before 6 p.m.

According to Nobles the deputy discovered the 22 Pitt Bull breed dogs who had water and food and appeared to be healthy chained inside the wood line as fire fighters battled the blaze which may have started from a cigarette.

Nobles said this was a clear violation of county ordinances. The ordinance prohibits the tethering of an animal outside without shelter and harboring more than six dogs at a time.

Long and Liberty County animal control officers were called in to remove the animals from the property. The dogs are currently being housed at the animal control facility in Long County.

Nobles said they will be taken to a veterinarian for examination to see if they were abused in any way. Nobles said upon completion of the investigation the owners will be cited for violating county ordinance.