Onslow County Animal Services encourages pet owners to spay/neuter their animals, prevent dumping
The Onslow County Animal Shelter is encouraging owners to spay or neuter their pets after a Swansboro business owner was caught on video tossing three kittens into a roadway ditch in early November.
Ronald W. Hughes, 56, of Cherrywood Lane in Swansboro was investigated by Onslow County Animal Services for allegedly tossing three, 50-day-old kittens into a roadway ditch on 4H-Camp Road on Nov. 6., according to the Carteret County News-Times.
The incident was captured on a state park camera. Hughes is the owner of All Mighty Towing & Recovery LLC in Swansboro.
Onslow County Animal Services Animal Control Manager Richard Gabbert told The Daily News that Hughes was charged with abandonment and they are currently waiting for the court date.
Gabbert said that North Carolina General Statute 14-361.1 Abandonment of Animals, says that any person being the owner or possessor, or having charge or custody of an animal, who willfully and without justifiable excuse abandons the animal, is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.
"Animal owners need to spay or neuter their animals to eliminate unwanted animals," Gabbert said in an email. "Stray animals can be turned over to the animal shelter during normal business hours. There is no reason to dump stray animals with no provisions for adequate care."
Gabbert said that if an owner does not want the animals to go to a shelter, there are local rescue groups they can contact, or they can attempt to rehome the animals on their own.
He added there are also organizations in the county that may provide resources for those in need of spay/neuter services.
But why do so many people dump kittens and other pets in the first place?
"There are many reasons a citizen may dump an animal, such as the owner moving and cannot take the animal with them," Gabbert said. "Another possible reason is the animals do not belong to the property owner and they do not want them on their property. However, the Onslow County Shelter accepts all stray animals, and they will be held at the shelter for the state mandated 72-hour hold."
Gabbert said not all found kittens have been dumped though, and Onslow County is overpopulated with stray and feral cats due to the lack of responsible pet ownership. He added residents feeding or maintaining cat colonies without spaying and neutering the cats are causing the overpopulation.
Unfortunately, Gabbert said Animal Control can't prevent residents from dumping kittens.
"Once Animal Control receives the report of dumped kittens, an investigation is completed," Gabbert said. "Proof needs to be provided that the animal was dumped. For example, video evidence or witness statement providing information such as person/vehicle description and license plate number."
The kittens, two female and one male, allegedly dumped by Hughes on Nov. 6 were taken to the Onslow County Animal Shelter in Georgetown and placed in foster care on Nov. 15, according to the Carteret County News-Times reporting.
Reporter Morgan Starling can be reached at mstarling@jdnews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Daily News: Swansboro businessman caught on camera dumping kittens last month
