AHOSKIE – A possible case of animal cruelty/neglect remains under investigation by the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office and Hertford County Animal Control.

As reported in Thursday’s edition of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, eight of 23 dogs located at a vacant residence just north of Ahoskie on US 13 were seized on Wednesday and taken to the county’s animal shelter.

At that time, Sheriff’s Office investigators, joined by Hertford County Emergency Management Director Charles Jones whose department includes Animal Control, were in the process of collecting information that may lead to arrest warrants being drawn.

On Friday, Hertford County Sheriff Juan Vaughan reported that no warrants have yet to be drawn and the case is still under investigation.

A Virginia TV station reported on its web site that materials consistent with dog fighting were also taken from the scene.

“We not sure at this time if this case is associated with a dog fighting operation,” Hertford County Sheriff Juan Vaughan said. “I do not know where the TV station received information to that regard.”

Sheriff Vaughan said investigators were still asking questions of the dogs owners.

Hertford County Animal Control was assisted in transporting the affected dogs by animal control officers from Bertie, Chowan and Gates counties.