Melvin “Sonny” Berry was charged after authorities found an injured woman and 40 wolf-hybrid dogs living in an “uninhabitable” home, authorities said. (Mug shot: Davidson County Sheriff’s Office)
A man was arrested Monday after authorities said they found an injured woman and “40 Wolf-Hybrid dogs” in an “uninhabitable” home. Melvin “Sonny” Berry faces a number of charges, including 20 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. The canines had to be euthanized over safety concerns, said the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina.
Deputies said that this month, they started looking into allegations of domestic elder abuse and neglect, and animal cruelty.
“During the investigation, it was determined through observations, interviews, and medical evaluations that an elderly female was living inside a residence with over 40 Wolf-Hybrid dogs and sustained injuries that led to a welfare check being conducted at the residence where the female resided,” they wrote. “Deputies found the inside and the outside conditions of the residence to be uninhabitable for people and dogs.”
Authorities determined the dogs to be “not social” and furthermore, the canines were “feral.”
“After lots of consultations with medical professionals and veterinarian staff the animals had to be Humanely Euthanized to protect Public Safety as well as the safety of surrounding pets in the area, due to the diseases that these dogs were exposed to and carrying,” they wrote. “An order from a Superior Court Judge was signed directing the animals to be Euthanized.”
All told, Berry faces one count of felony domestic elderly abuse/neglect with serious injuries, one misdemeanor local ordinance charge, and the aforementioned 20 misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. He is scheduled for a court appearance in Lexington District Court to take place July 23. His name does not appear in the county jail records as of Sunday afternoon.
From deputies:
Anyone with any further information related to this case, contact Deputy C. Soles at the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Division at 336-242-2105.
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