Suspects make court appearance

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. -- Two men make their first court appearance, facing charges in what investigators call one of the worst animal cruelty cases they’ve ever seen.

Gaston County police charged Robert Chavis Floyd, 18, a Bessemer City High School student, and Anthony Ross, 24, with animal cruelty Wednesday.

In court, Floyd asked the judge for a public defender. Ross said he planned on hiring his own attorney. Both declined to speak to WCNC.

Investigators said they found seven dogs on and around a property on West Louisiana Avenue in Bessemer City. Two dogs were chained up and dead. Animal control officers were forced to take a third pit bull to a veterinarian to be euthanized. It was so malnourished it could not walk.

“When it came in, its mouth was full of dirt as if it was eating dirt. The poor little thing was so hungry,” said Dr. Robert Neunzig.

The four dogs that are still alive are at animal control.

“These were deplorable acts of cruelty,” said Reggie Horton, administrator for Gaston County Animal Control.

Horton says a veterinarian evaluated the dogs, which are all pit bulls, and they are in fairly good shape considering officers found no food or water. They are evaluating the dogs’ temperament, and hope to eventually turn them over to a rescue or humane group. The public will not be able to adopt them.

Officers say they did not witness any dog fighting, but that is their concern. Animal control has seen it before.

“What we're more apt to find are these spur of the moment, maybe less organized, street level neighborhood type things,” said Horton.

However, officers say dog fighting is a tough case to prove in court unless it’s caught in the act.