CRAVEN COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – A K9 dog trainer based in New Bern is being accused of animal cruelty.
Disclaimer: Photos within this story are graphic and may be upsetting to view.
The Craven County Sheriff’s Office says it launched an investigation into 31-year-old James Laurine after getting a report of animal cruelty on December 10.
Deputies say Laurine brought a dog to get medical care and said that the dog was injured during an alleged training session that happened the day before.
A veterinarian evaluated the dog, who was bleeding from the mouth.
Deputies say the dog had multiple injuries that were inconsistent with what Laurine had reported.
Court documents say that two of the dog’s teeth were traumatically removed and had cuts to the neck, face and gums.
The dog also had extensive bruising on the chest and legs, hemorrhaging of the eyes and bruised and swollen gums, according to the documents.
Craven dog abuse(Craven County Sheriff’s Office)
Deputies shared other photos with WITN, some of which revealed severe injuries to the dog’s mouth that were too graphic to show.
The dog needed surgery because of the injuries.
On Friday, Laurine was arrested and charged with felony animal cruelty.
Warrants say Laurine allegedly held the dog down with a catch pole for approximately ten minutes, which caused the injuries.
The owner of the dog was contacted, and she has since been released to them for further medical treatment.
Court documents show Laurine posted a $50,000 bond. His next court date is February 13, 2026.
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