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By Mike Barnhardt

Enterprise Record

His dog just wasn’t acting right, so he did what a lot of people would have done.

He took it to an emergency veterinarian in Winston-Salem.

A day later, he was arrested for animal cruelty by the Davie County Sheriff’s Office.

Anthony Drew Church, 26, of Wall Street, North Cooleemee, was charged last month with felony cruelty to animals, felony possession of cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was taken into custody in lieu of a $5,000 bond.

The problem with that dog came from a toxicology report generated by that emergency vet. The dog has tested positive for cocaine, THC (the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana) and Benzodiapine (a depressant that can produce sedation and hypnosis.)

When Davie sheriff’s officers served a search warrant the next day, the drugs were in plain sight in the house, said Sheriff J.D. Hartman.

They also seized 26 other dogs at the residence, dogs that are in temporary custody of the county. Most of the dogs were puppies and nursing mothers, he said.

“Donations of Purina Puppy Chow, cash or checks are greatly appreciated,” he said.