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.
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At 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, 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. The company's website is currently under maintenance.
"We confiscated the 11 dogs on the property," Sheriff Jackie 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."
Neal received a $45,000 secured bond in Lenoir County and a $2,000 secured bond in Duplin County. Rogers said Neal posted bond. Neal is awaiting a court date.
On Wednesday, WRAL News tried reaching out to Neal, but did not hear back.
"I was appalled by the videos showing Mr. Neal's crimes," Rogers said during a news conference on Wednesday. "As an animal lover myself, I was sickened and disgusted by the actions."
Rogers said the videos were "crucial" to Neal's arrest.
A reporter asked Rogers what message he had to the public about animal abuse.
"I would like to say that it needs to be reported immediately, not waiting years to report it," Rogers said. "I think there were probably dogs that got abused that if they were reported it quicker than that, then we could have saved dogs from getting abused."
On Wednesday, Capt. Christy Smith said the videos of the alleged abuse dated back to 2020. Smith, who led the investigation, said a former employee of East Carolina Retrievers took the videos of the alleged abuse.
"Potentially, we could have more interviews that come in, but it could go back further than that," Smith said.
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.
'Lots of tears were shed': Dog owner believes trainer abused her lab
Bree Adams is the owner of a bloodhound, a German Shepard lab and her lab named Lady.
"They are like family to us," Adams said of her dogs.
Adams said she and her husband used Neal to train Lady because East Carolina Retrievers had a good reputation. Lady was the only one of Adams' dogs under Neal's care.
"When we went, Matt was really nice," Adams said of her encounters with Neal. "He showed us around. It seems like a good place."
Adams described her reaction when she found out about Neal's arrest and charges.
"Lots of tears were shed," Adams said. "Lady got very spoiled."
Adams believes Lady was among the dogs that Neal allegedly abused. She said she suspected something had happened to Lady because when she would go to pet her dog, she said the dog kept ducking.
"I hope he gets a very long sentence and gets what he deserves," Adams said.
Adams said she believes Neal acted out of anger.