Three people have been charged with animal cruelty after 34 dogs, four snakes, and two cats were seized from a Northampton County home.
Tyrone Onley, 43, and Tamica Gunter, 25, both of Jamesville, have been charged with 35 counts of animal cruelty, said Northampton County Sheriff David Doughty.
A third suspect, Joshua Payne, 36, of Newark, Del., was charged with four counts of animal cruelty, Doughty said.
Onley and Payne remain at large. Gunter is being held at the Eastern Shore Regional Jail with bond denied.
Doughty said on Aug. 21 the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the Jamesville area for a welfare check.
During that call for service, animal control responded, and on Aug. 22, “returned to seize a dog that appeared to be malnourished, living in deplorable conditions,” Doughty said.
On Aug. 27, the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the same residence and an additional 34 dogs, four snakes, and two cats were seized.
The animals were transported to the Eastern Shore Animal Hospital and the Eastern Shore Regional Animal Control Facility for treatment, Doughty said.
The Northampton County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information relating to this incident or the location of Onley and Payne is asked to call the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office at 757-678-0458 or to submit a tip anonymously by utilizing the Tip411 app.
