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MICHAEL JOSEPH WHEELER arrested for dumping his dog at a shelter and driving away

- North Carolina, USA -


Pitt County authorities arrested 37-year-old MICHAEL JOSEPH WHEELER (pictured).


WHEELER is accused of abandoning his 1-year-old mix mutt named Franky in front of the Pitt County Animal Shelter and driving away. The incident happened on April 14, 2025.


A spokesperson for the Greenville Animal Protective Services tells me that WHEELER “attempted to surrender the dog at the shelter and the shelter staff requested he come back at 1pm when they opened. Instead, he went out to his truck, unhooked the dog from its leash and drove off. The shelter director witnessed the dog running after the truck and was able to save the dog from oncoming traffic.”


The incident was reported to Greenville Animal Protective Services. The agency was able to track the truck on nearby cameras and identified WHEELER as the driver.


WHEELER was taken into custody on May 1, 2025. He told Greenville Animal Protective Services officers he had just found the dog. However, officers were able to confirm that he was in fact Franky’s guardian through veterinary records and photos. Additionally, officers were able to determine that Franky was not given proper shelter, food and water.


WHEELER, of Farmville, was charged with abandonment of an animal, cruelty to animals, and a leash law violation, all misdemeanors. He was released from the Pitt County Jail after posting a $500 bond.


Court records show that WHEELER is scheduled to be back in court on May 19, 2025, at 8:55 a.m. before Judge William Brian Desoto.


As for Franky, I was told he “was going to be or already has been adopted” and I was advised to reach out to Pitt County Animal Shelter for additional information and pictures.

I am sorry I cannot confirm Franky’s status but Pitt County Animal Shelter NEVER responds to my emails!


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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the arrest warrant and information obtained from Greenville Animal Protective Services. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

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.


For more animal cruelty stories, please click here. Thank you!


WHEELER’s mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Pitt County Sheriff's Office.






VINCENT CLAY COSTNER II, Gastonia Police officer, arrested and accused of torturing a dog

- North Carolina, USA -


The Gastonia Police Department arrested 41-year-old corporal VINCENT CLAY COSTNER II (pictured).


The arrest warrant accuses COSTNER of torturing a black 1 year and 4-month-old Great Dane on March 31, 2025, causing “unjustifiable pain and suffering.”


Gastonia Police said they launched an investigation into COSTNER earlier this year when “concerns were brought to the attention of local authorities.”


The investigation resulted in COSTNER’s arrest on April 28, 2025. COSTNER was booked into the Gaston County Jail on one felony count of cruelty to animals and was released less than half an hour later after posting a $5,000 bond.


Gastonia Police Chief Trent Conrad expressed his disappointment and said: “I am deeply disappointed by this situation. We hold our officers to the highest standards of conduct, both on and off duty. No one — especially those who are entrusted with protecting the public — is above the law.”


COSTNER has been with the department since December 15, 2020, and his current employment status is unknown.


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Voice For Us Disclaimer: Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

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.


COSTNER’s mugshots shared from the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office.


For more animal cruelty stories, please click here. Thank you!






Investigation underway after a defenseless opossum was intentionally set on fire

Updated: May 10

- North Carolina, USA -


~ Update: May, 10, 2025


An arrest has finally been made in connection with the sickening animal cruelty case where an innocent, helpless, and defenseless opossum was INTENTIONALLY set on fire while alive.


On May 8, 2025, authorities arrested 30-year-old CAMERON BERNARD TORRENCE (pictured).


Online records show that TORRENCE is facing charges of instigating cruelty to animals, fleeing and eluding arrest, and probation violation. TORRENCE was released from the Mecklenburg County Jail on the evening of May 9, 2025, after posting a $10,000 bond. His court date was set for August 1, 2025.


According to an affidavit, on April 24, 2025, the revolting video of the opossum being set on fire was posted on Facebook and it showed “individuals dousing an opossum with an accelerant and then lighting the opossum on fire.”


Numerous tips from the public stated that the video originated from a profile named "Hefe Hefe" with Associated Facebook User Number 100089544943313 belonging to TORRENCE.


The affidavit stated that North Carolina Wildlife Officers S. Parker and K. Blankenship went to St. Mark Street in Charlotte to canvass the area and found the burned opossum.


~ Original story:


“To say that we are sick to the stomach is an absolute understatement,” this how a Facebook post by the Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center begins after an innocent and defenseless opossum was intentionally set on fire.


The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and the FBI are investigating the incident which took place on April 25, 2025, in Charlotte.


The three evil scum responsible for the vile act filmed the incident and then posted the video on their social media accounts. The sickening video showed them squirt lighter fluid at the helpless opossum before setting him/her on fire.


WCCB reports: “Those three people are not just cruel but also stupid, as it appears they uploaded the video online to their own social media accounts, making it easy to identify them. In fact, on Friday night they were online bragging about it.”


Officials with the Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center say the three individuals could face felony charges.

Morgan Rafael, founder and executive director of the Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center, also said in the Facebook post: “We have seen hateful acts against wildlife, the abuse and cruelty that they suffer every single day but for someone to take a flame torch to an opossum is really beyond imagination. This is as close to evil as someone can get. No animal, human, living creature deserves such hate.”


I have emailed the FBI and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department to inquire about the investigation. If I get a response, I will post an update.


I took the liberty of naming the Voiceless Victim Sweetie for the tribute image.


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Voice For Us Disclaimer: Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

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.


TORRENCE’s mugshot shared from the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office


For more animal cruelty stories, please click here. Thank you!






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