A man and a woman claiming to be representatives of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have been arrested in North Carolina for killing dogs they received from two animal shelters. The two were using a van registered to PeTA in Norfolk, Virginia. 1
Following a month-long investigation, officers in Ahoskie, North Carolina, arrested Andrew Benjamin Cook, 24, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Adria Joy Hinkle, 27, of Norfolk, Virginia, on 31 felony counts of animal cruelty and eight misdemeanor counts of illegal disposal of dead animals. The cruelty charges stem from discovery of 18 dog bodies found in a dumpster and 13 dead dogs in the van.
The police investigation was triggered by the discovery of dead animal bodies on several Wednesdays. On June 15, several law enforcement officers watched as Cook and Hinkle unloaded several dark bags into a dumpster behind a market. They stopped the van before it could pull away.
The animal officer for the Bertie County Animal Shelter identified the bodies as dogs that were picked up at the shelter earlier that day. 2 The officer said the pair had been picking up animals at his shelter for the past two months on the pretext they were taking them to Norfolk, Virginia, to place them in good homes.
The investigation and arrests confirm what NAIA has known for years: PeTA’s “sanctuary” exists to give the organization a veneer of respectability that is no more legitimate than a front business used by mobsters as a cover for corrupt activities.
PeTA is no stranger to killing animals it claims are better dead than held captive. From 1998-2003, PeTA killed more than 10,000 of the 13,000 animals brought to its sanctuary in Norfolk. 3
A veterinarian speaks out
Ahoskie veterinarian Dr. Patrick Proctor said that he has spayed and neutered animals brought to him by PeTA representatives for several years. The representatives asked him if he had any adoptable animals they could also take to Norfolk for placement in new homes. Over the years, he sent about 50 animals with them, including a mother cat and two kittens in the Wednesday pick-up. He identified one of the dead dogs found Wednesday as a six-month-old Labrador retriever cross puppy in apparently good condition except for the hypodermic needle hole in its front leg.
Proctor said that he is trying to get the word out about these killings and has called national media in an attempt to get them interested in the story.
Cook and Hinkle, who have been identified in news stories as PETA employees, are out on bond. 4 Their first court date is Friday, June 17.
About The Author
Patti is a recognized expert and consultant on contemporary animal issues, most notably responsible dog ownership and the animal rights movement. She often appears on radio and television and her articles on canine issues, animal welfare, public policy and animal rights have appeared in major US news publications and in trade, professional and scientific journals. Patti and her…
All Authors Of This Article: | Patti Strand |
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