Fifty dogs removed from from Lenoir County facility

KINSTON, N.C. — Rescuers have removed 50 dogs from a Lenoir County breeding facility after the owner was convinced that he had to shut it down.

A statement from The Humane Society of the United States said the dogs were living in substandard conditions in outdoor pens throughout the property.

Local officials inspected the property after receiving an anonymous complaint and found no evidence of intentional abuse, but the unidentified property owner voluntarily surrendered the animals.

The statement said the property owner signed a contract with local officials barring him from breeding any dogs in the future.

According to the society, the dogs were to be taken to shelters in Richmond, Va., and Washington, D.C., where they will be evaluated and placed for adoption.

Three weeks ago, the Humane Society and Wayne County authorities removed more than 280 dogs from a breeding operation near Mount Olive.