A Marine has been charged with felonies for killing an animal by starvation after animal control officers discovered 45 mistreated animals at his property.
Marine Lance Cpl. Damian Irvin and his wife Samantha Wesche were both arrested last Friday once animal control officers visited their property in North Carolina after receiving a tip about animal cruelty, WITN reports.
The two face two felony counts of starving an animal to death, in addition to 45 misdemeanor counts of mistreatment of animals.
The anonymous caller had been inside the Irvin house recently, and when officers met the caller and prepared to enter the residence, they smelled “a strong odor coming from within the residence.”
With a warrant in hand, Onslow County Animal Services entered the home with the County Sheriff’s Office and discovered dead kittens in a freezer and a dead dog May 15. The other animals, according to OCAS, were not given adequate food or water. OCAS removed 29 dogs, 11 cats and a pig from the property. Irvin and Wesche had been away since May 6.
One other dog was convulsing. OCAS made the decision to euthanize the dog at the house.
“The residence did not have a properly functioning air conditioner at the time entry was made,” OCAS Director Howard Martin said. “Our officers found all animals, including the pig, in pet crate without proper food and water supplies. Several of the cats’ crates were found inside a bathroom and closets.”
The rescued animals are not up for adoption at this time.
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