Wake County man charged with 9 counts of animal cruelty

A Holly Springs man was charged with nine counts of animal cruelty Monday.

Michael Thomas Duke, 64, is accused of animal cruelty against nine dogs, according to a Tuesday statement from the Town of Fuquay-Varina, whose officers charged Duke. Wake County Animal Control requested that officers respond to Duke’s home on Wilbon Road after receiving reports of abandoned animals at his residence.

“Officers and Wake County Animal Control discovered severe unsanitary living conditions and rescued nine dogs from the premises,” the Town of Fuquay-Varina wrote in a statement.

Duke was initially charged with nine felony counts of animal cruelty, but those charges were dismissed because the charging officer found “no evidence of maliciousness or killing of an animal,” court records show. He will be charged with misdemeanors instead.

A warrant for Duke’s arrest states that he owns the dogs. All the dogs are alive and have been transferred to Wake County Animal Control, the Town of Fuquay-Varina said.

Wake County Animal Center is closing temporarily on Friday for about six weeks, though essential Animal Control work will continue, The News & Observer previously reported.

This story was originally published January 13, 2026 at 7:04 PM.