Mother, son face animal cruelty charges after PETA finds dogs neglected

PETA received a call from a concerned neighbor on Dec. 23, 2023, reporting animal cruelty. When PETA’s fieldworkers arrived in Nash County, they found three dogs dead and four tied up, hungry and sickly.

Mother and son, Lucinda Lewis and Kevin Lewis, are each facing four charges of cruelty to animals for their treatment of the dogs.

"We are really not going to tolerate animal cruelty," Nash County Health Director Bill Hill said.

Hill told WRAL News it is thanks to Nash County Animal Control that the pups have been nursed back to health.

"They are really mending quite well,” Hill said.

After ensuring the dogs were safe, the new priority became getting justice.

"We could have gone two different routes. We could have looked at it from an animal control ordinance violation, which would have been a $500 fine for each individual involved, or we could go the more severe route which would be the criminal justice system,” Hill said. “That’s the way we went."

Lucinda Lewis and Kevin Lewis are expected to appear Feb. 20 in Nash County District Court.

Authorities are housing the dogs at the Nash County Pet Connection Center.

Nash County Animal Control Officer Matt Ingram said the pets are getting special care at the facility.

"These dogs are being fed twice a day,” he said. “When you get a dog that comes in a cruelty situation, you have to feed them brand because they need the extra calories.”

Hill said the dogs will soon be adoptable.

"These dogs will find good homes in Nash County," Hill said. "I think they will be very adoptable, and I suspect our rescue groups will help us in that venture."