Darryl Newsome has also agreed not to breed dogs, or even own more than one, for at least 10 years, according to a civil settlement entered Thursday. He is allowed to own one dog as a pet.

Newsome of 814 Little Rock Church Road, had been scheduled to appear in Wilson County Civil Court Thursday morning to answer a lawsuit filed by Pug Rescue of North Carolina Inc.

But the two sides came to the settlement Wednesday night, averting a trial.

"I'm shocked that it's ended like this," Christina Hedrick, president of the pug rescue group, said Thursday. "I was going to walk into court this morning and walk all over him."

Still, she is satisfied with the terms of the settlement, which will allow her group to begin spaying and neutering the seized dogs and adopting out ones that are now in good health.

"We can now begin moving them into their permanent homes," she said.

Newsome still faces criminal charges related to the seizure of the dogs, which scheduled for trial in May.

He did not return messages left at his home Thursday.

The 55-year-old's legal problems started in January when a contractor reported a strong stench of urine and feces coming from the home.

An animal control officer visited the home Jan. 18, but Newsome only allowed him to view dogs in an outdoor pen, according to county records. The next day, Newsome surrendered eight dogs to a pug rescuer. A veterinarian found that some of those animals had injuries that had been untreated for as long as two years.

Wilson County animal control officers and deputies raided Newsome's home Jan. 19 and seized more than 40 dogs, including several pregnant or nursing females. The majority were pugs, but the group also included schnauzers, miniature pinschers, dachshunds and chihuahuas.

Nearly all the dogs had health problems from being confined in unsanitary and cramped conditions, including burns on their feet from standing in urine, Hedrick said. Many had lost eyes or had eye injuries, most had upper respiratory infections, and some had cardiac conditions.

One dog ultimately died, Hendrick said Thursday, but the rest are now healthy, although some will continue to have lingering physical and behavioral issues. Some are still prone to fear-biting, meaning their new owners need to be experienced dog handlers, she said.

"We don't adopt out on a first-come, first-served basis," she said. "We want to make sure that they are never allowed to live in similar situations."

Hedrick has been contacted by puglovers from as far away as Canada and Australia who wanted to contribute to the dogs' care. Adoption applications have been received from all over the United States.

"The public has been tremendous. I can't find words to thank them enough," Hedrick said. "It's been both heart-warming and overwhelming."

Pug Rescue of North Carolina Inc was seeking $36,000 in the lawsuit to recover money spent on the animals' medical bills and boarding, but Newsome did not agree to pay any compensation in the settlement.

Newsome is charged with four criminal counts in connection with the case — three misdemeanor charges of cruelty to animals and one felony count of cruelty to animals, according to the Wilson County Sheriff's Office. He is scheduled for a court appearance May 28.

For more information on the dogs, including applications to adopt them, go to www.pugrescuenc.org or call 336-312-2983.

Matthew Shaw