80 dogs, 2 monkeys, a bird and meth seized from SC home near Lake Wylie, deputies say
Deputies in York County took custody of dozens of animals Monday from a home near Lake Wylie in a “large-scale animal seizure,” officials said.
Eighty dogs, two monkeys and a bird were taken from the property on West Liberty Hill Road, said Trent Faris, spokesman for the York County Sheriff’s Office.
The area is west of the lake and south of the North Carolina state line. Lake Wylie is part of the Carolinas border between York County and Charlotte.
Deputies from the sheriff’s office code enforcement unit, along with York County Animal Control, were at the scene most of Monday.
The dogs are small-breed animals, York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson said in a statement. The animals were in very poor living conditions inside and outside of the home, Tolson said.
“We are thankful for the team work between our deputies and animal control to make sure these animals get the care they need, and hopefully in the future a loving home,” Tolson said.
Methamphetamine and an illegal gun were also found on the property, Tolson said.
One person charged, sheriff says
David Andrew Barber, 63, was arrested at the scene, Tolson said.
As of Tuesday afternoon, a day after the seizure, Barber had been served arrest warrants for 83 counts of ill treatment of animals, one count of possession of meth with intent to distribute, and one count of illegal possession of a sawed-off shotgun, Faris said.
Barber remains in the York County jail pending an initial court appearance on the current charges, according to the sheriff’s office and S.C. court officials.
The sheriff’s office issued an alert on Facebook and Twitter to advise the public about the increased police presence for the animal seizure in the area between Lake Wylie and York.
So many animals were seized that the York County Animal Shelter, which handles pet adoptions and placement for animal control, closed intake to the public Monday as the animals were handled.
The seized animals are receiving veterinary care and the investigation remains ongoing, officials said.
This story was originally published July 26, 2021 at 2:43 PM.
