SALISBURY, N.C. — A total of 45 animals were seized from a home in Salisbury last week, according to the Rowan County Sheriff's Office.
On Oct. 21, someone found a dog in poor condition and posted about the dog on Facebook. The next day, a rescue group picked the dog up and took it for a veterinarian check at the Rowan County Animal Shelter.
After the veterinarian found the dog to be in a state of starvation, officials learned the the dog was microchipped and found the dog was registered to a home on Morlan Park Road.
The Rowan County Sheriff's Office obtained a search warrant, and on the morning of Oct. 26, the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Apprehension Team (SOCAT) and Rowan County Animal Services went to the home to serve the warrant to the residents, Justin Robert-Lee Smith and Madyson Danyell Clontz. The two were at home at the time, along with Clontz' child.
Authorities found several animals both inside and outside the home, all in "very poor condition." The Rowan County Sheriff's Office said the home itself was in "very poor condition," with mold and rat feces visible.
The animals seized were as follows:
- 11 dogs, one of which had died
- 2 cats
- 3 goats, one of which had died
- 1 bearded dragon
- 1 turtle
- 1 betta fish
- 4 guinea chickens
- 4 ducks
- 6 chickens and hens
- 8 roosters
- 2 pigs
- 2 snakes, one of which had died
Additionally, Animal Services seized glass snake tanks, one glass fishbowl, and a glass pickle jar that had been used to transport a turtle.
Smith and Clontz turned themselves in on Oct. 30 and were served with warrants, charging each with 45 counts of felony animal cruelty and three counts of misdemeanor child abuse, due to the poor living conditions within the home. While one child was home at the time of the search, officials determined a total of three children lived at the home.
The two were later served with additional warrants, charging both Smith and Clontz with one count of felony kill animal by starvation. Those charges came after an autopsy was conducted indicating a dog that was found dead on the property had been starved.
Both Smith and Clontz were placed in the detention center, where Smith received $6,000 secured bond and Clontz received a $3,000 secured bond.
Their first court appearance is on Nov. 1.