Shayna Patricia Stuckey

2 dogs found dead – one sill alive in abandoned home

Newport, NC Cateret County

July 29, 2006

The Carteret County Sheriff’s Department Animal Control Officers responded to a call from concerned neighbors who noticed a strong odor coming from an apparently abandoned home at 507 Rosemary Drive in Newport.  Two dogs were found dead inside a cage and the third was found alive and running loose in the home, but suffering from neglect. Animal cruelty charges have been filed. The missing homeowners face two charges of animal cruelty and a third charge of animal neglect.  The identity of the owners is still not available.

Animal Control Officer Mike Hardy stated that the dogs had no food or water and two dogs were left confined in a cage too small for even one of the dogs.  He believed that one dog had been dead for about a week and the other, about one day.  The third dog was without food and water and was very thin and distressed.  The male Akita will be cared for by the Carteret County Humane Society until the case is resolved.

There is little information available on the whereabouts of the dog’s owners.  Animal Control Officers posted a notice on the door of the residence informing the owners of the situation and Sheriff Deputies are in the process of locating them.

The property owner who rented the home to the unknown couple indicated he had been looking for them also.

Update August 12 2006:

The owner of the dogs has been identified as Shayna Stuckey.  Stuckey was served with warrants charging her with 1 felony count of animal cruelty for the death of 2 dogs and 1 misdemeanor count for the other dog.

The full-blooded Akita is doing well at the Carteret County Human Society.  The dog is believe to be 3-4 years old and has gained about 10 pounds.

Carteret County Animal Control has filed 2 additional felony counts of animal cruelty against Stuckey.  The warrants for Stuckey list an address in Havelock, NC.

On 10/16/06 Stuckey appeared in the Beaufort, NC District Court on 2 counts of animal cruelty, casefile  #06CR 054572 & 573

On 10/26/06 Stuckey appeared in the Havelock, NC District Court on charges of being in possession of Drug Paraphernalia and possession of Marijuana up to ½ oz.  Her court date is set for 11/2/06, casefile # 06CR 007343 & 344.

Update March 10, 2007:

Stuckey plead guilty to 3 counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals related to the death of 2 dogs and neglect of another.  Stuckey is serving time in the Carteret County Jail until her next court appearance.

Reference:

Jacksnville Daily News

North Carolina District Court