NORTH CAROLINA -- A couple was found guilty of a combined 26 counts of cruelty to animals, restraining dogs in a cruel manner, communicating threats and making harassing phone calls, according to a press release from the Catawba County Justice Center.
Michael D. Hedrick, 30 and Sarah S. Sims, 27, were each sentenced to serve three days in jail, placed on 18 months of probation and ordered to perform 24 hours of community service.
Hedrick and Sims must also pay $2,517 to Catawba County for animal shelter costs and are never allowed to own animals again.
The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office was called to their residence on three occasions. The initial response was for an aggressive dog, followed by discovery of six dogs that were not being given food or water and were wearing choke collars and heavy chains.
According to the release, Hedrick threatened to kill the investigating officer if she returned to the property and Sims said she did not care what happened to the dogs.
The dogs were deemed in imminent danger by the sheriff’s office and were seized by deputies and Catawba County Animal Control on Aug. 18.
(Hickory Record - November 20, 2015)
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