JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- A Marine and his wife are facing animal cruelty charges after officials seized more than 40 animals from their Jacksonville home.
21-year old LCpl Damian Irvin and 19-year old Samantha Weshche made their first appearance in Onslow County court on Monday.
The couple faces two felony counts of animal cruelty and 45 misdemeanor counts of mistreatment to animals after last week's arrest.
Animal control officials responded to 128 Forbes Estate Drive on May 13 after receiving an anonymous call about animal cruelty.
They discovered 31 dogs, 13 cats and 1 pig.
Officials also found two dead kittens in the freezer, and a dead dog.
Another dog had to be euthanized at the scene.
"You have varying degrees of what everybody thinks is standard but under the state standard of North Carolina, it just wasn't acceptable means for animals to be in," said Howard Martin, Director of Onslow County Animal Services.
Martins says all of the animal were found in crates and did not have enough food or water.
Currently, the animals are being evaluated by Onslow County Animals Services and are not up for adoption.
Irvin and Wesche are free on $5,000 bonds.
Their next court date is June 12.