Dead Dogs Behind Local Family’s Home

LENOIR, N.C. – The smell is what hits you first in the wooded area behind Ashley Roark’s Lenoir home. She says, “Something needs to be done because this is ridiculous.” Decaying dogs dot the landscape back there, just a few hundred feet from Roark’s house, where she lives with her mom on McCrary Place.

We counted six dead dogs, but it’s hard to tell. Two carcasses still had collars. Roark says the woman who used to live next door in a dilapidated trailer, kept about a dozen dogs outside. Roark says, “You could tell they were getting neglected and not fed. And they were definitely getting abused.” And, “I know they used to kick ’em. They would not feed them.” WCCB News @ Ten anchor Morgan Fogarty asked Roark, “Did you see them kick them?” Roark replied, “Yes. My whole family, neighbors, plenty of people saw them.”

And then one day, Roark says, the dogs started disappearing. “I assumed she was giving them homes, you know, since it’s kinda obvious she couldn’t take care of them,” says Roark.

Instead, Roark says, her family member found some of the dogs here, a few in shallow, uncovered graves. She says, “It’s very disturbing, and I don’t think anyone should get away with such animal abuse.”

We found at least one state law that could have been violated here: NC General Statute 106-403 says, in part, dead domesticated animals must be buried at least three feet in the ground.

Caldwell County Animal Control opened a criminal investigation on March 19th. Lenoir Police and Animal Control sent WCCB a joint statement saying in part, “We are currently conducting a thorough investigation and have been in contact with the DA’s office. We are diligently looking at charges in the future.”

Police call logs show 14 calls for service to the address since last April. Four were animal related. Roark says animal control was out last month to take pictures and samples, but didn’t remove the carcasses. The sight and smell of decay, in stark contrast with the three crosses that mark the spot where Roark’s family pets were respectfully buried years ago.

She says, “I know whoever did it does not deserve to just let this go sliding by, cause no dogs deserve it.”

Roark says she called animal control twice to report the woman and her dogs. The woman recently moved to Tennessee. We’ve contacted her through Facebook but she hasn’t replied. Investigators want anyone with information about this case to call Crimestoppers (828)758-8300.