Pit bull neglect - Staunton, VA

Saturday, Sep 30, 2006

County: Staunton City

Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Michael Reed, Jr.

A judge told a man to give up his dogs or face jail time on Dec 6, two months after police found hungry dogs tied to heavy chains and locked in a cellar at his C Street address.

Defendant Michael Reed Jr. said the General District Court judgment, which prevents him from ever owning companion animals in the city, was too harsh.

But a residents group called Chains Hurt said they are glad to see Staunton get tough on animal neglect. Two volunteers with the group worked with Reed to help him correct the violations. When he failed, they backed up city animal control officer Shane Ayers in court.

"I hope it's a turning point for the community," volunteer Ria McGuffin said.

Ayers, the city's lone animal control officer, cited Reed for animal neglect in October and suggested he accept help from Chains Hurt members to help him comply with the law.

McGuffin said she found a male pit bull with back problems and sores on his leg tethered to a heavy logging chain at the house. An emaciated female dog with several puppies was kept locked in a urine-soaked cellar without food or water, she said. None of the adult dogs were spayed or neutered.

Reed had made efforts to clean up the situation, using lighter chains and getting the dogs vaccinated Tuesday afternoon.

But Patti Bright, a licensed veterinarian who volunteers with Chains Hurt, said some of the conditions persisted until Wednesday morning, half an hour before the hearing.

"I think if he really cared about these animals he would have taken care of this two months ago," she said.

Bright and McGuffin said they are concerned about the fate of the three adult dogs and five puppies that will have to find new homes. Reed said the dogs would go to friends and relatives.

In the meantime, however, Chains Hurt members said they hoped continued community support would impact the outcome of similar cases.

"It's really important for the community to speak out in these cases, because Shane (Ayers) is just one person," Bright said.

References

• The News-Leader - Dec 7, 2006

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