Animal Abuse: 22 dogs seized from unsanitary conditions - Bremo Bluff, VA

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Case ID: 17770

Classification: Hoarding

Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull)

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Attorneys/Judges

Prosecutor(s):	Jeff Haislip
Judge(s):	John G. Berry

CONVICTED: Was justice served?

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Case #17770 Rating: 2.3 out of 5

22 dogs seized from unsanitary conditions
Bremo Bluff, VA (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Mar 1, 2011
County: Fluvanna

Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Jennifer Brooks

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Twenty-two dogs are now getting expert care in Fluvanna County. All were seized from one home and from living conditions described as unsanitary. The German Shepherds were taken by animal control from a home on Bremo Road.

All but three of the dogs are being cared for by Fluvanna's SPCA. Their owner, Jennifer Brooks, faces 44 charges: 22 charges of animal cruelty, and 22 charges of failing to adequately care for the dogs. a warrant has not been served yet, but a petition has been filed.

We're told the dogs were not starving but a veterinarian judged their living conditions as unsanitary. Commonwealth's Attorney Jeff Haislip said, "We had a veterinarian go out and look at the conditions and his opinion was the animals safety and health were in danger."

The magistrate's office was petitioned to have the dogs seized. Haislip stated, "You know there's a difference between caring about your animals and caring for your animals. It's obvious she cared about them, our concern is they weren't being cared for."

Nineteen of the dogs are now at the Fluvanna County SPCA; the other three are in the care of a veterinarian. Tricia Johnson of the Fluvanna County SPCA said, "Right now the dogs are just being well fed, watered. They're in clean surroundings." Johnson says the number one priority is the health of the dogs.

The commonwealth's attorney says his office only gets involved in cases like when it absolutely has to. Haislip said, "We seize animals as a last resort. We know it's hard on the animal owner, it's hard on the tax payer because it's expensive."

The commonwealth's attorney says that ten of the dogs have been relinquished by the owner and are going to the German Shepherd rescue. A judge will determine what happens to the remaining 12 dogs. A court date is set for next Tuesday.

Jennifer Brooks spoke with us Wednesday night. She says she is heartbroken, loves her pets, and wants them back.

Brooks says she had a medical procedure last week and hasn't been staying at her Bremo Road home. She did have someone feeding the dogs, but when a veterinarian was called to the house, he said the conditions the dogs were living in were unsanitary.

Brooks said, "I don't want people to think that I'm abusing them. They're loved, they're cherished."

She did relinquish 10 of her dogs. She'll have to go to court to fight for the other 12. She says she is prepared to do so.

Case Updates

The pets taken from a Fluvanna County woman charged with animal cruelty all have new homes. Nearly two dozen german shepherds and a pair of cats were adopted Saturday from the Fluvanna County SPCA.

A Judge ordered Jennifer Brooks to hand 19 dogs of her dogs over to the shelter. It was all about giving these animals the second chance they deserve.

Fluvanna County SPCA Board President Leah Shiraishi said, "This is truly what we're all about. Our mission is saving animals and hopefully finding their forever homes and that's what today is about."

Lori Moon, who adopted a german shepherd added, "To be able to start over again and try to give them the best life you could possibly give them."

One of the shepherds actually had puppies during her stay at the SPCA. All of those little guys will go to their new homes once they're old enough to leave mom.

Source: nbc29.com - Apr 23, 2011
Update posted on Apr 24, 2011 - 1:31PM

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A Fluvanna County woman charged with animal cruelty has been reunited with some of her pets, but not all of them.

On March 01, 22 dogs were seized from Jennifer Brooks' home after reports of animal cruelty and unsanitary conditions. Brooks pleaded guilty to one count of cruelty to animals and four counts of failing to adequately provide for them. But both the defense and the commonwealth's attorney agree this was not a case of intentional harm.

Jennifer Brooks says the past few weeks can be best summed up in just two words. "Separation anxiety," she said, "the dogs have been going through it, too. I miss them terribly."

Last month, her 22 German Shepherds were seized from her home on Bremo Road in Fluvanna County. After weeks of fighting in court to get them back, she has accepted a plea agreement.

Brooks stated, "Things haven't gone well. I am getting the three oldest dogs back, which is good, and I appreciate that, but I have concerns as to what's going to happen with the rest of them."

Brooks was given a 3-year jail sentence but that sentence was suspended on a number of conditions, one of them being that she must give up 19 of her dogs and keep only the three oldest.

Fluvanna Commonwealth's Attorney Jeff Haislip said, "Those dogs are 15, 11 and 10 years old and in varying stages of ill health. We felt that under the circumstances, carefully monitored, they'd be better back in her possession at her new residence with new surroundings than at the SPCA where they would be difficult to adopt out."

Brooks will undergo a psychological evaluation and will be put on suspended probation for one year. She will also be responsible for paying $4,500 in restitution to the county to help pay for the boarding and care of the animals.

The judge says it's clear this was a case of a woman with medical issues who took on more animals than she was capable of taking care of.

"If there had been any indication that this was an intentional infliction of harm to the animals, I never would have agreed to return even the three back to her," Haislip stated.

Brooks is now living in a new home with new kennels for her three dogs to live in. Animal control will check on the dogs periodically to make sure they're being properly cared for.

As for the 19 dogs that were seized they're all doing well, and some are available for adoption from the Fluvanna County SPCA.

Source: nbc29.com - Apr 14, 2011
Update posted on Apr 24, 2011 - 1:30PM

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References

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22 dogs seized from unsanitary conditionsBremo Bluff, VA (US)

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22 dogs seized from unsanitary conditions
Bremo Bluff, VA (US)