Cover Stories Summer/Fall 2005

Neglected Greyhounds Removed from North Carolina Home

Cedar Grove: Orange County Animal Control June 6 filed 47 counts of animal cruelty against Robbin and Kenneth Wiseman, ten days after 66 dogs were removed from their home. Fifty-one of the dogs were greyhounds the couple had taken into their Greyhaven Senior and Special Needs Greyhounds adoption program.

The Wiseman's surrendered the dogs after animal control officers, responding to a tip, discovered the emaciated animals living in filthy conditions. "There was certainly evidence that the dogs were in the crates for extended periods of time, just given their condition and the matted feces on their bodies, and the sores," said Ron Hold-way, Orange County's interim animal control director.

Five greyhounds were euthanized after a veterinarian determined they were in "very bad condition," said Joe Pulcinella, director of the Orange County Animal Shelter. The surviving greyhounds were placed with several adoption groups, including Raleigh-based Greyhound Friends of North Carolina (GFNC) and the Triangle Greyhound Society. Five Dalmatians found in the home were sent to a Dalmatian rescue group; two were later euthanized.

Judge Rejects Plea Deal
The Wiseman's appeared before Orange County District Court Judge Pat Devine Monday, Oct. 3. After hearing details of the case and viewing photographs taken inside the Wiseman's home, Devine said, "This is without a doubt, the single worst case, the single most hideous case of animal abuse this court has ever seen." Devine told the couple they had two choices - either undergo an in-depth mental health examination and return with the results, or continue the case.

Through their attorney, John Loftin, the Wiseman's chose to continue the case after Devine rejected a plea agreement that would have given the couple 36 months probation and prohibited them from owning animals for five years.

Orange County Animal Control Officer Harvey Melton told the judge that when he and other officers arrived at the home, Robbin Wiseman acknowledged they had 12 to 17 dogs in the house. But when officers entered the darkened interior, they were shocked to see even more dogs. "We were immediately crowded with so many dogs we literally could not move," Melton said.

Two dogs in bad condition were found in the attic, where the temperature was about 100 degrees, Melton said. Some dogs were found in cages that had two to three inches of urine, feces and hair in the bottom of them.

The case was contined until Oct. 31.

Harry, Doubly Damned
Harry, a beautiful 9-year-old red brindle greyhound, was among the 51 greyhounds found in the Wiseman's home, where he had been kept for five years. Harry was in such poor health that animal control officials planned to euthanize him. Randy Barrow, director of GFNC, intervened and convinc-ed authorities to allow Harry to be placed in GFNC's care. The emaciated dog weighed only 56.4 pounds when he arrived, but by August he had gained 20 pounds.

In May 2000, 4-year-old Harry was one of 1,086 greyhounds who had been sold into research by a Wisconsin kennel owner, and one of only 108 rescued from the facility through the efforts of many individuals. [See GNN Summer 2000 online for the complete story. - Ed.]

Harry died unexpectedly of a probable stroke on September 24, 2005.

Sources: The Charlotte News & Observer: Jessica Rocha, Janell Ross, Cheryl Johnston;
The Herald Sun: Eric Ferreri, Beth Velliquette