Prosecutors in Hertford County, N.C., in October filed additional charges against two People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Norfolk, Va.) employees accused of killing adoptable puppies and kittens with the controlled substance pentobarbital, then throwing their bodies into a Dumpster behind a grocery store.

Felony animal cruelty charges were re-filed against defendants Adria Hinkle and Andrew Cook in Superior Court, where each was charged with three felony counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. At press time, authorities expected the pair to be formally indicted on Oct. 31.

The new charges allege that Hinkle and Cook removed healthy animals from shelters and veterinary offices after falsely promising that they would find adoptive homes for the animals.

Police found 31 dead animals obtained and several vials of the narcotics pentobarbital and ketamine only hours before arresting the pair was arrested last June. [January 2006 PET AGE]