Judge will decide if NC kennel owner accused of cruelty gets an emotional support dog
Last year, a grand jury indicted a Franklin County kennel owner on seven counts of animal cruelty, alleging she tormented at least 20 large-breed dogs, killing a 2-year-old Rottweiler named Goober.
The case spells out a long list of canines suffering “malicious torture,” including a white bulldog named Relish, a brown bulldog named Dobbins and a tan-white bulldog named Boomer.
But before she goes to trial, Anne Marie Green of Youngsville has asked the court to grant one request to aid her mental health: an emotional support dog named George, her mini goldendoodle.
“None of the allegations ... involve allegations against personally owned animals,” wrote her attorney Edward Bartholomew II, in a March 31 motion. “Further, defendant categorically denies that she has ever abused or caused to be abused, neglected or caused to be neglected, harmed or caused to be harmed, tortured or caused to be tortured, or in any other manner hurt any animal, much less one of her own pets.”
Green was indicted in January 2024 on six felony charges and one misdemeanor count, alleging she caused roughly 20 dogs to be “tormented or deprived of necessary sustenance” at Green Meadow Kennels operated out of her home.
At the time, The Franklin Times reported Sheriff Kevin White saying two dozen dogs had been rescued from the illegal kennel.
“The love and compassion I have for these animals is unmatched,” White wrote on his Facebook page, according to the Times. “If you harm a defenseless animal, I will come after you just as hard as any other criminal.”
Green’s case is now set for May, but in his motion, Bartholomew writes that she has lost her job over the charges and had to relocate due to “immense” media coverage of her case.
As a condition of her release from jail pending trial, Green was forbidden contact with any animal. She has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, the motion said, and George, the goldendoodle, has either been boarded or left in family care.
“In order to properly address her mental health issues and in order to properly allow for her to continue to receive her mental health help and support,” Bartholomew wrote, “Defendant requests that her conditions of release be modified to allow her to have possession of her emotional support animal, George.
“Any further allegations of abuse against George would be violation of her bond conditions and therefore would cause her bond to be revoked.”
Franklin County District Attorney Mike Waters said his office will oppose the motion, not having been provided with any factual information behind it.
A decision is still pending.