WWW- STAR-studded animal rights charity People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals stands accused of a horrific hound slaughter, after two employees were caught tossing the corpses of 31 orphaned dogs they had “euthanized” into a Dumpster outside a Piggly-Wiggly store in Ahoskie, N.C.

The activist group – which has a legion of boldfaced supporters including glamorpuss Pamela Anderson, retired NBA star Dennis Rodman and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons – was caught following a surveillance operation by North Carolina police.

Ahoskie police chief Troy Fitzhugh told PAGE SIX that up to 80 dead dogs, including seven puppies, had been illegally dumped in the area over the past four weeks.

The two who were arrested, Andrew Cook, 24, of Virginia Beach, Va., and Adria Joy Hinkle, 27, of Norfolk, Va., are employees of PETA, and the white van they were driving was registered to the activist group. Fitzhugh said that all the dogs had been taken from nearby animal shelters, and were “living when they were picked up.”

PETA insists that its method of euthanasia, lethal injection, is more humane that the local methods – .22-caliber rifle or poison gas. The local shelters knew the dogs “adopted” by PETA were doomed to die, PETA claims – but local officials say they were told the organization would find homes for the animals, not slaughter them.

PETA president Ingrid E. Newkirk told us, “We have a history of communications with these shelters. They know we provide free euthanasia services. We drive down there to euthanize their animals.”

Newkirk said the fact the canine corpses were thrown in a Dumpster was “a shocker for us too,” and, “should never have happened,” but insisted the two staffers should not have been charged with animal cruelty. She said they were being unfairly treated and were “good people.”

Newkirk added, “You can sit there and write what you want and I hope you’re happy about it. Why don’t you come down and get your hands dirty? Come ride in our van and see the condition of these dogs that no one cares for. We are here to stop animals from being cruelly treated. They were being shot with .22 rifles and gassed in windowless boxes until we arrived.”