A man wanted in what Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields described as one of the worst animal cruelty cases in recent memory has been arrested

Rodney Anthony Morrison was taken into custody Saturday in Southern Pines, days after deputies with the Moore County Sheriff’s Office discovered multiple emaciated and deceased dogs at a residence on Woodglen Way in Pinebluff.

Morrison was charged with three counts of felony cruelty to animals. He is being held on a $75,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court on August 6.

The case began on July 9, when deputies with the sheriff’s Animal Services Division responded to a call about a stray dog in the neighborhood. Upon arrival, they found a severely malnourished dog wandering the area.

Through an investigation and help from concerned residents, deputies were led to a nearby home in the 100 block of Woodglen Way. At the residence, they found one dog deceased on the property and another in similarly dire condition.

Animal rescue organizations were contacted but were unable to accept the animals due to capacity limits. Despite receiving treatment, both surviving dogs’ health continued to decline, and they were euthanized to prevent further suffering.

Deputies said Morrison initially spoke with investigators but refused to return to the scene or cooperate further. A search warrant was executed at the home to ensure no additional animals were in distress.

“This is one of the worst cases of animal neglect and cruelty I’ve seen in many years,” Sheriff Fields said in a statement. “There is no excuse for the suffering these animals endured.”

Morrison remains in custody at the Moore County Detention Center at the time of publication.

Information and photo used in this article were contributed by the Moore County Sheriff’s Office. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.