RICKY MCCOY COOPER JR. arrested after PETA found dead dogs and emaciated live dogs at a Como home

- North Carolina, USA -

The Hertford County Sheriff's Office arrested 40-year-old RICKY MCCOY COOPER JR. (pictured) in connection with an animal cruelty investigation that began in April 2026.

On April 30, 2026, PETA’s fieldworkers responded to a property on Spiers Road in Como to investigate a citizen report about the living conditions of several dogs.

PETA’s fieldworkers sadly discovered three decomposing dogs who were either chained or kept in pens outside, and seven live dogs who were extremely malnourished.

According to Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, “PETA fieldworkers had been visiting the property regularly for years to provide free doghouses, food, water buckets, and other essentials for the dogs confined there.”

PETA alerted the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office and took the seven surviving dogs to the Virginia Beach SPCA for treatment where they were diagnosed with heartworm disease.

Necropsies were performed on the deceased dogs and results showed that the poor souls had been starved and were suffering from parasites and advanced heartworm disease.

The investigation determined that all of the dogs were under COOPER’s care.

When the necropsies and reports were finalized, copies were turned over to the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office. COOPER was then charged with ten misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals. 

COOPER turned himself in on June 5, 2026, and was released after posting a $5,000 bond at the Hertford County Detention Center.

Court records show that COOPER is due back in Hertford District Court on July 28, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. before Judge W. Robert Lewis II.

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In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

COOPER’s mugshot shared from the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office.

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