BERTIE COUNTY, N.C. — Bertie County deputies have charged two women with animal cruelty and abandonment after PETA fieldworkers discovered the decaying remains of three dogs that had been chained and left without care.

On Nov. 10, 2025, deputies responded to a Highway 13/17 S. address after PETA reported finding multiple deceased dogs during a welfare check. The dogs were “severely decayed” and had died while chained, the sheriff’s office said. Deputies spoke with the property’s owner and her daughter, who had not been living at the residence and had someone else responsible for the animals.

Authorities obtained two counts each of animal cruelty and abandonment against 47-year-old Tanikia Roshea Peele of Windsor, and one count each of cruelty and abandonment against 23-year-old Sha’lexia

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