10:41 AM EDT on Thursday, June 1, 2006

Associated Press

Ahoskie Police photos

Andrew Cook and Adria Hinkle

WINTON, N.C. (AP) -- A judge has denied a request to drop felony animal cruelty charges against two PETA employees charged with dumping dead animals they collected in eastern North Carolina.

Defense attorneys say the charges should be dismissed against Adria Hinkle and Andrew Cook because the animals were euthanized in a humane manner.

They also argued that the two are being prosecuted because they are affiliated with the controversial organization, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Hinkle, of Norfolk, and Cook, who's from Virginia Beach, are charged with euthanizing dozens of animals and dumping them into a trash bin in Ahoskie last June.

No trial date has been set.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)