CURRITUCK, N.C. — The Currituck Animal Shelter has received an outpouring of donations from the community after rescuing more than 60 dogs that had been living in "inhumane" conditions.
“The main thing with these is failure to provide veterinary care. A lot of their teeth are bad, rotting out. It’s hard for them to eat as much as they want to eat," said Gina Maurer, the director of Currituck County's Animal Services and Control.
A post from the county government said the seizure was made on Friday from Bentwood Labradors, a dog breeding business in Moyock, North Carolina.
The shelter picked up 47 adult dogs and 14 puppies from the site and found one dog there who had died. Some of the rescued pets had to get emergency veterinary treatment.
“Largest seizure we have ever had in Currituck County," Maurer said.
The Currituck Animal Shelter said these dogs were "dehydrated, lethargic, emaciated, and overall in poor health." While vet teams are getting them back to normal, they're getting five feedings a day.
Many of the rescued dogs have visible ribcages from being underfed.
According to Currituck County courts as of Monday afternoon, the owner had not officially been served charges yet, but Maurer discussed some of the details of what the owner now faces.
“Charged him with the restraint ordinance because the labs were running loose. A nuisance, they created it by impeding the roadway. Cruelty charges or mistreatment of animals, failure to provide sanitary and humane living conditions. Vet care, food water, your basics," she said.
According to Maurer, the owner has until the end of the week to refute the seizure of these animals.
In the meantime, donations have been pouring in to take care of these dogs.
"We have received so much dog food that we do not have space to store anymore," wrote a spokesperson for the shelter on Monday.
The Currituck Animal Shelter is still in need of:
- laundry detergent
- Odoban disinfectant
- bleach
- kitchen trash bags
- 55-gallon contractor trash bags
- Nylabone toys
- pet store gift cards
If you want to help, you can drop those supplies off at the shelter at 140 Aviation Parkway.
