Wake County man accused of poisoning, killing neighbors' dogs was board member of animal rescue

James and Agnes Goldston are each charged with three counts of animal cruelty and communicating threats. They were arrested on Thursday night.

"Although he did not have any direct interaction with the dogs at Saving Grace, James Goldston has voluntarily resigned, effective immediately, to avoid any distraction from the important work of the organization."

The couples both live in the Black Horse Run subdivision in north Raleigh, off Creedmoor Road.

Phillip and Jessica Ridley said one dog died in July 2022, another died last weekend and a third was sickened and hospitalized.

"It's traumatizing," Phillip said. "The dog is loving and caring one minute and 12 hours later he can't get up and seizing and collapsing due to chemicals."

After the second and third dogs showed the same symptoms as the first, the Ridleys called law enforcement.

The Wake County Sheriff's Office told WRAL News that each dog was evaluated at three veterinarians and all confirmed the dogs were poisoned.

The Ridleys say that the Goldstons were known to poison squirrels with antifreeze, and that their dogs might have eaten the squirrels and gotten sick.

"I have cried so much, I don’t think I have tears left," Phillip said.

According to the warrants, James Goldston sent threatening letters to the Ridleys, including one that said, "Your daughter is next," and poisoned and killed two of their three Labrador retrievers.

"For the past year over a year, they sent us threatening letters in the mail about our animals and our house," Jessica said.

One of those letters, shared with WRAL News, read, "If one or both of these dogs put their paws on my property I am going to blow their brains out."

"It was a nightmare," Jessica said.

The Wake County Sheriff's Office said other neighbors reported getting similar, anonymous threatening letters.

The Goldstons each posted $30,000 bond and were ordered not to have any contact with the Ridley family.