Two Norfork residents have been arrested on charges of animal cruelty after allegedly abandoning three dogs without food or water for at least six weeks. John Lee James Morris, 40, and Rebecca Leeann Havner-Morris, also 40, each face three misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. They are free after posting $1,380 bond each.
The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation in early August after receiving a report about the dogs. According to a probable cause affidavit, deputies initially did not believe the animals were abandoned due to the presence of a bag of dog food and a nearby creek behind the property. However, the investigation resumed in late September when an investigator found all three dogs in poor condition. One of the animals was described as emaciated, with visible ribs, backbone, hip bones, and shoulder blades, and appeared to be in deteriorating health.
The property's landlord told investigators that the couple had been evicted approximately six weeks prior. He said Rebecca Morris is his daughter and claimed the dogs were left behind after the move. According to the landlord, the dogs were surviving primarily by scavenging through neighbors' trash and preying on local chickens. He also observed evidence on the property of the dogs possibly hunting wild game, including the remains of a large bird.
Several neighbors corroborated the landlord’s statements, noting that the animals appeared to be surviving off scavenged or hunted food. The investigator also learned that the couple occasionally returned to the property to retrieve mail, which led to an observation that it had been seven days since their last visit.
According to court records, John Morris has a prior felony conviction in Baxter County from 2022, which stemmed from an incident involving child endangerment and methamphetamine use in 2020. Authorities alleged that he pointed a firearm at a Department of Human Services employee and later pled guilty to a reduced charge of third-degree assault as part of a plea deal. Rebecca Morris has prior charges in Stone County from earlier this year, including felony possession of methamphetamine and prohibited items in a correctional facility.
The couple's next court appearance regarding the animal cruelty charges has not been announced.