Man in custody after marijuana field, injured dogs discovered at home

Updated at 7:23 p.m.

A marijuana field and more than 50 dogs were discovered at a home on Gray Town Road Thursday by the Onslow County Sheriffs Department.

Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown said a man is in custody and charges are pending but he could not elaborate further.

Numerous complaints to the Sheriff’s Department about the presence of marijuana plants and pit bulls at a residence outside of Jacksonville prompted the narcotics unit of the Sheriff’s Department and the N.C. Highway Patrol to conduct a fly over of the area, which indicated an “unusual appearance in the area,” according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Department.

Following the fly over, members of the Sheriff’s Department investigated the area on foot and smelled marijuana and observed more than 50 dogs, some of which were seriously injured, the press release said.

Brown said officers observed no food for the animals and the only water available was “muddy rain water.”

“This was substantiated by the fact that the water bowls that were under the shelter and could get no rain were empty,” said Brown.

Brown said officers observed “severe injuries” that they believe indicated the animals were involved in fights.

The grave condition of the dogs is a concern, said Brown.

“Any time that you have an animal that you don’t take care of, it is serious in my book,” he said.

Animal Control “put the dogs under their authority” but were unable to take them into custody and remove them from the premises because there is nowhere to keep them, Brown said.

“The owner has been given specific instructions as far as what to do with the dogs and what not to do with the dogs,” he said.

The matter is under investigation, and Brown said more information will be available as details develop.

“Right now we’re in the early stage of the process,” he said.