A total of 34 animals and 36 reptiles were seized from the home of the two suspects at 5181 Gouge Avenue in Morganton.
23-year-old Andrew Julian Moore and 24-year-old Stephanie Michelle McElhany, who list 5181 Gouge Avenue as their address, were arrested last Friday (December 11). Each of the suspects was charged with nine counts of cruelty to animals, made that first court appearance Wednesday (December 16).
Moore and McElhany pleaded guilty to the charges and relinquished all rights to the animals and reptiles. They were each sentenced to 45 days suspended, five years of supervised probation with the condition they cannot own or live in a residence with animals for the duration of the probation, 100 hours community service, and they will have to pay fines and court costs.
The animals seized from the property included six horses, six donkeys, 19 dogs, one rat, one ferret, one cat and 36 snakes.
Moore and McElhany were in violation of the law and given multiple chances to remedy the situation, according to Lt. Steve Massey of Burke County Animal Control.
“We tried to educate them and put a plan in place,” he said. “But they didn’t follow the plan and the animals had to be seized for their own well-being.”
“In this case, we had calls back in 2013, but the animals were still in fairly good shape,” he said. “On our follow-up visits, the animals’ condition continued to decline, though.”
“Some of the bigger animals were able to get to more food, so they were better fed,” he said. “But the smaller ones were most likely pushed out of the way. Some of them were a one, one and a half (on the body scoring system, which lists "1" as emaciated/skeletal).”
Moore and McElhany agreed to warrantless searches of their residence to ensure they are in compliance. Placement of the animals will be handled by the Humane Society.
(WHKY - Dec 17, 2015)
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