In Rutherford County, North Carolina, deputies arrested and charged Michael Alan Swink with alleged cruelty to animals, after authorities searched an abandoned property in Bostic nearly two weeks ago.
According to Rutherford County Animal Control, a search warrant at the property resulted in multiple dogs being seized and taken to the shelter. The dogs suffered from extreme starvation and worms. Two of the dogs and one cat on the property were deceased.
It had been a mail carrier who reported the heartbreaking discovery: (As posted on social media – OP deleted). The disturbing photo of the deceased dog quickly drew the ire of the community.
So a coworker of mine has turned a set of dogs in that are at an abandoned house 99.9% sure these people are gone and nothing was done.
Rescues have tried to get animal control to go out and do something. nothing was done so now these dogs are out there in this cold and when my coworker went by today, one was frozen and dead hanging from the porch.
Rutherford county AC what the hell? As much as I hate putting one to sleep I think humanely dying is better than dying like this.
Reports about animal cruelty at this residence had been made as far back as October 2024. At the time dogs and cats on the property had seemed underfed, had no shelter, and some had been chained and/or left in cages so small they had been unable to turn around. Nothing appeared to have been done.
Both concerns and complaints from the community have been filed with animal control services in Rutherford County, a division of the health department referred to as Foothills Health District.
After the seizure of the dogs, the two dead dogs and one dead cat and Swink’s arrest, the county health inspector responded to a very upset community:
While the situation surrounding animal neglect and cruelty in Rutherford County is heartbreaking and unacceptable, both of our animal services officers are completing as many complaint responses as possible given their scope of jurisdiction. We are operating with a nearly full shelter of law enforcement-related animals that we cannot adopt out, foster, or euthanize, limiting our ability to house other animals. We work closely with the sheriff’s office and other local agencies as necessary, and our goal is to assist local law enforcement in holding those responsible to the highest degree of accountability.
The owner of the dogs, Michael Alan Swink, had not been seen in over a week. He was arrested on Friday and faces six counts of felony cruelty. Swink has a $15,000 secured bond before he can be released.
Community members are encouraged to attend the county commissioner meeting on February 3.
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