Winton, NC — Prosecutors in Hertford County, North Carolina filed additional charges today in the case of two People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) employees accused of killing adoptable puppies and kittens with the controlled substance pentobarbital, and tossing their bodies into a grocery-store dumpster. Felony animal-cruelty charges were re-filed this morning against defendants Adria Hinkle and Andrew Cook in Superior Court. In addition, they were each charged with three felony counts of Obtaining Property by False Pretenses. The pair is expected to be formally indicted in Superior Court on October 31.
According to the new felony warrants, the charges of Obtaining Property by False Pretenses allege that Hinkle and Cook removed healthy animals from shelters and veterinary offices under the false promise that adoptive homes would be found for them. When the two were arrested in June, police found 31 dead animals which had been obtained only hours earlier. They also found several vials of the narcotics pentobarbital and ketamine.
The nonprofit watchdog Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) alerts the public to the misdeeds and radical agendas of animal “rights” groups like PETA. At www.PETAKillsAnimals.com, CCF exposes the hypocrisy of PETA’s massive euthanasia program which has resulted in the deaths of over 12,400 “companion animals” since 1998. Last year, PETA’s income exceeded $29 million—a tiny amount of which is devoted to actually caring for animals.
Center for Consumer Freedom Director of Research David Martosko
is available for interviews with reporters who plan to cover the PETA employees’ upcoming trial. Members of the media can speak with Mr. Martosko by calling 202-463-7112 or 202-494-6220.
