Dog denied water and collared to 28 pound chain. Now police are hunting for the owner.

A Winnabow man was arrested Monday for trying to block Brunswick County deputies from rescuing several dogs during an animal cruelty investigation.

Police are still looking for the owner of the dogs, Tramonte Quintel Hooper, to arrest him on two misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office.

Deputies say the dogs were without proper shelter or access to water, and one of the dogs was tethered with a heavy chain that weighed more than 28 pounds.

When deputies tried to serve the warrant and take the dogs from the property at the 9300 block of Southern Boulevard, Bristol Benjamin Richardson, 67, tried to prevent deputies from taking the dogs, the statement said.

Richardson was arrested and charged with misdemeanor resist/delay/obstructing and officer. He was released from jail on a $500 bond.

Law enforcement officials are reminding pet owners in N.C. that it’s a legal requirement to provide a constant source of fresh water for pets, adequate shelter and at least one meal a day.

If tethered, the tether must be an appropriate size in relation to the animal so as not to overload or cause injury.

This story was originally published July 5, 2017 at 1:58 PM with the headline "Dog denied water and collared to 28 pound chain. Now police are hunting for the owner.."