Shelter Worker Killed in Dog Attack at Mississippi Animal Rescue

The attack happened after Phillips attempted to place a dog into a pen that already contained another dog, according to Dudley Woods, who knew Phillips for around nine years.

Rudy Blalock

Published: 7/31/2025, 3:12:58 PM EDT

Shelter Worker Killed in Dog Attack at Mississippi Animal Rescue — A Hinds County Sheriff's Department van passes the entrance to Hinds County Detention Facility in Raymond, Miss., on Aug. 1, 2022. (Rogelio V. Solis/AP Photo)

A 57-year-old animal shelter employee died this month after being attacked by two dogs while working at a Mississippi rescue facility.

Clifford Irving Phillips Jr. was fatally mauled on July 17 while working at Second Chance Animal Alliance on Highway 315, the shelter confirmed in a Facebook post.

Phillips, a Water Valley resident, had been employed at the nonprofit shelter, which describes itself as a volunteer-led organization that provides care and finds homes for dogs in need, according to its website.

The attack happened after Phillips attempted to place a dog into a pen that already contained another dog, according to Dudley Woods, who knew Phillips for around nine years.

Woods said a friend who was at the shelter told him of the circumstances surrounding the attack.

"A dog was already in a pen and he was trying to put another dog in there and the other dog tried to run out, and he tried to hold him off with his foot and that dog grabbed his leg, pulled him down. And then the other dog jumped in with him," Woods told CBS affiliate WREG. "One of them was a pit, and the other was a pit mixed breed, and they killed him. They got it all on tape down there."

According to the North Mississippi Herald, a local newspaper, Yalobusha County Sheriff Jermain Gooch confirmed that the two dogs involved in the fatal attack were among more than a dozen animals housed at the facility following a court-ordered seizure related to animal abuse and dog fighting charges.

The Yalobusha County Sheriff did not respond to a request for comment from NTD News before publication.

First responders shot and killed one of the attacking dogs to reach Phillips and provide medical treatment, but Phillips was pronounced dead at the scene. The male dog that reportedly initiated the attack was euthanized over the weekend, according to the sheriff.

Charles Phillips, the victim's younger brother, said that despite the circumstances of his brother's death, the shelter is known for its positive reputation in the community.

"They've always done good. They've took a lot of strays and puppies and stuff from around here and they've always done good with that," he said, according to WREG.

One week after the incident, Second Chance Animal Alliance addressed the death in a Facebook post.

"It has been one week since the death at the shelter of our friend and employee Cliff Phillips. Alongside his family and many friends, we are devastated by this loss," the organization said in a July 25 Facebook post. "While we cannot address every question or rumor we have seen over this past week, we have cooperated with local officials. Please know that we take the safety and security of our volunteers and employees seriously."

Phillips was remembered as a quiet and caring person who developed a strong connection with animals throughout his life. Born April 22, 1968, in Beloit, Wisconsin, he moved to Water Valley in 2007 and worked various jobs before joining the animal shelter, according to his obituary.

His work experience included positions at local businesses such as Dunn's Country Store and Piggly Wiggly before his most recent employment at Second Chance Animal Alliance.

According to his obituary, Phillips often felt more comfortable around animals than people, a trait that served him well in his shelter work. He was described as someone who "never met a stranger" and enjoyed connecting with people through shared stories and experiences.

Phillips was an active member of Sylva Rena Baptist Church, where he regularly sang with his deep, resonant voice. His hobbies included reading, listening to music, and watching videos on his phone, particularly enjoying reactions to classic television shows and movies from his childhood.

A memorial service celebrating Phillips' life was held July 24 at Sylva Rena Baptist Church. He is survived by his brother Charles Monroe Phillips of Water Valley. His parents, Clifford Sr. and Gladys Corrine Smith Phillips, preceded him in death.