Neglected dogs, some severely decomposed - Wilmington, NC

Monday, Jun 16, 2003

County: New Hanover

Disposition: Not Charged

Person of Interest: Henry Richardson, Jr

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Authorities have charged a man who owned five dogs found decomposing in a rundown kennel with seven criminal counts of animal cruelty.

It was not clear Tuesday whether misdemeanor or felony charges would be filed against Henry Richardson Jr., 58, of Wilmington. Officials said he had kept hunting dogs in the kennel behind a home for years, prompting complaints from neighbors about odors and animals running free.

Animal control officers were called to the kennel after police were summoned because of a strong odor. In addition to the five carcasses found Monday, officers discovered two malnourished, parasite-ridden dogs.

The dogs are now in the custody of New Hanover Animal Control.

"They're thin. Both dogs we have in our custody are fairly stable," said Dr. Jean McNeil, animal control services director.

In a complaint filed Saturday with Wilmington police, Richardson said the dogs had been poisoned. Animal control officials who removed the dead dogs said several of them appeared to have been dead for more than a month.

Officials said Monday that the animals were so decomposed that they couldn't be autopsied to determine a cause of death.

Case Updates

Henry Richardson Jr., 58, has beencharged with seven counts each of felony and misdemeanor cruelty to animals. Henry Richardson Jr., told Animal Control officials he had used diesel oil to kill fleas and ticks on the dogs, which he kept in a run-down, overgrown kennel behind 414 Swann St. Five dogs were found dead. Two survived, and are slowly improving in the care of Animal Control employees. Authorities say Mr. Richardson faces possible jail time, fines, probation and a court order not to keep animals.

Update posted on Jan 28, 2004 - 4:09AM

References

• The Sun Journal
• StarNewsOnline.com

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