Man Accused after Hurt Lady Discovered Residing with More than Forty “Feral” Wolf-Hybrid Dogs

An old woman was discovered in an “uninhabitable” home together with more than forty “feral” wolf-hybrid canines that were thought to have hurt her. A North Carolina man has been charged with elder abuse and animal cruelty in connection with this discovery.

According to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, deputies in the Denton region started looking into allegations of elder abuse and animal mistreatment this month.

A welfare check was conducted when detectives discovered, through interviews and medical tests, that an older woman had been injured and was cohabiting with over forty wolf-hybrid dogs.

On Wednesday, the sheriff’s office said, “Deputies found the inside and outside conditions of the residence to be uninhabitable for people and dogs.”

The sheriff’s office said the dogs were “not social” and “later determined to be feral.” In the end, the dogs were put to death.

The diseases that these dogs were exposed to and carried meant that, following several talks with medical experts and veterinary personnel, the animals had to be mercifully put to sleep to ensure the safety of nearby pets as well as the general public, according to the sheriff’s office.

Melvin “Sonny” Berry was taken into custody by deputies on Wednesday on one case of felony domestic elder abuse/neglect with significant injuries, one count of criminal local ordinance violation, and twenty counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty. On July 23, Berry is expected to appear in Lexington District Court.

Anyone with information on this issue is asked to call the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Division at 336-242-2105 to speak with Deputy C. Soles.