A man has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty after a disturbing video circulated on social media showing a person beating a dog.
Eleven dogs are now in protective custody. Matthew Neal, of Pink Hill, has been arrested, and charged with nine counts of felony cruelty to animals in Lenoir County. He was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals in Duplin County.
Wednesday at 12:30 a.m., a team of law enforcement officers with the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office arrested Neal, 32, at his home and business on Ash Davis Road in Pink Hill.
Neal is the owner of East Carolina Retrievers. According to the company’s Facebook page, he specializes in training and campaigning hunting retrievers and gun dogs. The Facebook page also mentions hunt tests and field trials, which are competitions that can offer money prizes. The company’s website is currently under maintenance.
“We confiscated the 11 dogs on the property,” Sheriff Rogers said. “They will be housed in a safe location this morning.
“We would also like to thank the citizens and the incredible residents who have come forward and made statements to make today’s arrest possible.”
Authorities have not confirmed that Neal is the person shown in the video. WRAL News is working to learn the identity of the person shown in the video.
Neal received a $45,000 secured bond in Lenoir County and a $2,000 secured bond in Duplin County.
There will be a press conference addressing this case and arrest at the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office Annex, 2695 Rouse Road Extension in Kinston, at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Anyone with firsthand knowledge (videos, pictures or eyewitnesses to the abuse) is asked to contact the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office at 252-559-6118.
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