By By GREG KATSKI
Community Editor
Animal-rights advocates said they agree with the charges brought against Ashley Bonner Daniels by Beaufort County authorities and look forward to the farm owner’s day in court.
Last week, Daniels was charged with six counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals following a search of his property near Aurora and seizure of 16 horses and four dogs from that property by Beaufort County Animal Control, with assistance from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies. In addition to the animals seized, two dogs and a horse were euthanized. Sixteen other 16 dogs were surrendered by Daniels.
“I agree with the charges,” said Jennifer Hack, executive director and investigations director of the United States Equine Rescue League.
An investigator from USERL’s North Carolina Central Coast Region, which covers Beaufort County, helped evaluate the horses before they were seized, Hack said. Hack said she understands why misdemeanor charges, not felony charges, were brought against Daniels.
“In order to get a felony, you have to prove that they purposefully went out and tried to harm an animal,” Hack said. “We have had much-worse cases of animal neglect where a felony was charged but knocked down to misdemeanors.”
She cited two cases in North Carolina that she called “severe animal neglect.”
“But we could not prove they absolutely intended to cause these animals pain,” Hack said.
Daniels is scheduled to be in Beaufort County District Court on April 20 to answer to the charges against him. Kimberley Alboum, state director of the Humane Society, said she will be at his trial.
“I’m looking forward to being there in court to support the county,” she said.
Meanwhile, Alboum is working with Beaufort County Animal Control to find homes for nine of the dogs surrendered by Daniels. The dogs are at the Betsy Bailey Nelson Animal Control Facility on U.S. Highway 264 east of Washington, she said.
“They would make wonderful companions — a little undersocialized, but sweet,” she said.
Seven of the surrendered dogs were taken by the Virginia Beach chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, according to Alboum.
The four dogs and 16 horses seized by Animal Control must remain in the possession of the county until the court case is concluded.
“We can’t adopt them until the court proceedings are over. But we’re going to need help one day soon,” Beaufort County Manager Paul Spruill said.