Lt. Jerry Brewer, of New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, said: 'This is a life just like any dog or cat. If you harm or neglect an animal in New Hanover County, we are coming for you'.
JASON MURDOCK: ‘North Carolina man was arrested and charged with animal cruelty this week for allegedly abandoning his pet fish after being evicted from his home last month. Michael Ray Hinson, 53, was detained by officers from the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. Officials said an Oscar fish had been discovered inside his former residence in Wilmington. The suspect was evicted on March 22; deputies found the pet three days later. The tank was filled with dirty water and the pet was suffering from “hole in the head disease,” a dangerous condition that is sparked by poor water quality and a lack of food.
Alongside the cruelty to animals charge—which is a misdemeanor—Hinson was also hit with one count of animal abandonment. The police department’s spokesperson said it was the first time a suspect had been charged in the county with cruelty over a pet fish… The former owner was assigned a $4,000 bond yesterday and has since been released from jail… An employee at The Fish Room in Wilmington, where the animal is currently being treated, told local newspaper The State that the fish had been living on cockroaches that fell in its tank.
Staff member Ethan Lane said the fish did not appear to recognise typical food pellets… Lt. Jerry Brewer, of New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, said: “This is a life just like any dog or cat. If you harm or neglect an animal in New Hanover County, we are coming for you.”… AquariumInfo describes Oscars as having “impeccable memory”… A fully-grown Oscar fish can grow to be 16-inches in length, with a lifespan of up to 20 years. The pet rescued from Hinson’s former home will be treated with medicine and a better diet’. SOURCE…
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