Raleigh man charged in deaths of three puppies, animal cruelty case

Raleigh police arrested 27-year-old Ernest Lamont Yarborough on Thursday on three felony cruelty-to-animals charges after investigators linked him to the deaths of three puppies earlier this month. Yarborough was held on a $30,000 secured bond, and a first appearance in Wake County court was set for Thursday afternoon.

The felony case followed an earlier arrest on June 5, when Yarborough was booked on a separate misdemeanor cruelty-to-animals charge for failing to provide veterinary care. That warrant was tied to a $1,000 unsecured bond.

State statute says “torture,” “torment” and “cruelly” include acts, omissions or neglect that cause or permit unjustifiable pain, suffering or death, and another provision makes the malicious killing of an animal by intentional deprivation of necessary sustenance a Class H felony. A North Carolina Supreme Court decision in State v. Ford later clarified that felony cruelty charges require proof of actual knowledge of an animal’s presence, not just that a defendant should have known.

For Raleigh residents who suspect abuse, Animal Control is part of the Raleigh Police Department and handles cruelty cases, injured or abandoned animals and other pet complaints. Residents can call Animal Control at 919-831-6311 and be ready to give the type of violation they saw and the address where it was happening so an officer can check on the animal’s welfare. Wake County Animal Control handles the rest of the county outside Raleigh, Cary, Garner and Holly Springs.

Wake County has already seen another animal-cruelty case this year in Fuquay-Varina, where Michael Thomas Duke was charged with nine counts after nine dogs were found in severe unsanitary conditions. Animal control officers removed the dogs and transferred them into county care.