Animal cruelty investigators seized 23 dog and other animals from a kennel in Lumberton on Monday, where they also discovered the remains of 100 dogs and two birds in the yard. The owner of the kennel, Mary Meekins, is being charged with 100 level 2 misdemeanors for failure to dispose of the carcasses, punishable by $500 and up to 6 months in jail for each offense, and 23 counts of animal cruelty, in addition to charges for failure to vaccinate against rabies.
Seized were: 23 dogs (English Mastiffs, English Bulldogs, English Boxers, 2 white boxers, a Rottweiler, a Great Dane, and a mixed breed house dog.)
The great dane that was seized was weak and extremely malnourished, weighing only 55lbs, making it about 80 lbs underweight.
One of the English Mastiffs seized weighed only about 70 pounds. (Adult English Mastiffs normally weigh between 160-190 lbs). The examining vet states that it had "enough hookworm to kill a cow", and had mostly dirt and sand in its bowels, indicating the dog's diet. The dog also suffered from what the vet determined to be burn wounds over a large portion of its body and a large wound on its side.
Additionally, investigators seized a red-tailed boa which is reported to be dehydrated, malnourished, and suffering from respiratory problems, as well as two cats, a bearded dragon, a horse, and a cockatiel that had been spray-painted blue. The two cats and the bearded dragon were reportedly in good condition and appeared healthy.
Katherine Floyd, one of the animal cruelty investigators on the scene expressed deep appreciation for the tremendous outpouring of support from the rehab and rescue community. Because the city does not have the vehicles and equipment necessary to handle a seizure of this size, a distress call had been put out this past weekend to rescuers and rehabilitation organizations, pleading for assistance in the form of equipment and manpower. Ms. Floyd states that rehab and rescue people from as far away as 200-300 miles traveled to the site to assist, and that people from as far away as New York and California has contacted her to see how they could help. "There is no way this could have been done without them," Ms. Floyd said.
Meekins has run the kennel/breeding facility for years under the names Big M Kennels and Big Dog Kennels located on Tom M. Road in Rowland, and is listed in the local yellow pages as a pet shop.
Meekins has been investigated in the past for selling dogs with fraudulent pedigree papers. She used to own 2 monkeys. When questioned last year regarding their whereabouts, she claimed that she had sold them, however vet records indicate that she had brought one to her veterinarian just this past spring, claiming that she didn't know why it had died. A test reportedly confirmed that the monkey had died from malnutrition.
Her bond was set at $2000 and she was released within 2 hours.
Meekins is scheduled to appear at the Robeson County courthouse for her first appearance on May 14, 2004. Court begins at 9AM. Case Updates| Posted on May 15, 2004 - 5:40AM | Mary Meekins,pleaded guilty Friday to starving animals in her care and failing to properly bury more than 100 dogs.
She made the plea in Robeson County District Court.
Mary Meekins starved 23 dogs, a horse, a snake, a monkey and a cockatiel and failed to bury more than 100 dogs within 24 hours of their deaths.
Mary Meekins was charged April 27 after lawmen and animal rescue volunteers found malnourished dogs at her home which was searched after lawmen got a tip about possible animal cruelty. The remains were found in the back yard and in a canal behind the home.
Mary Meekins once operated Big M Kennels from her home on Tom M. Road about eight miles north of Rowland. She was once considered a "big-time breeder,'' said Katherine Floyd, an animal cruelty investigator for Robeson County.
Judge Gary Bell said if he orders Meekins to serve two 45-day consecutive sentences, she will not be able to pay restitution toward a $7,000 medical bill for the sick animals.
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