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Case ID: 18242
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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Dog neglected, euthanized
Elliston, VA (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, May 28, 2011
County: Montgomery

Disposition: Acquitted

Person of Interest: Debi Smith

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Debi Smith loves Dalmatians. She's been president of the Dalmatian Rescue of Southwest Virginia since 1999 and says she's placed more than 1,000 dogs in good homes. Now she's accused of being cruel to one of them.

"I rather be charged with murder than animal abuse. They're my life. I love these dogs," said Smith.

Smith was charged with animal cruelty and failure to provide care. There's also a zoning violation for running a commercial kennel in a residential area. County officials tell NEWS7 the complaint came out of Pennsylvania.

"We've had some board member problems in the last three or four months. We have a couple vindictive because they were not invited back to the board, and they made phone calls to the county trying to get me in trouble, and they succeeded," said Smith.

Smith explains this all stems from health issues with a male Dalmatian named River that she saved from a kill shelter earlier this year.

"He looked awful. His skin was a total mess, but he came to us with this problem," said Smith.

Smith put him in a foster home, and the dog had to be euthanized in June. Smith admits she doesn't have the perfect setup in her home. She has 18 dogs currently in her program. Animal control did not remove any of them from the home Friday.

Debi provided WSLS with five bills from different vets from the area from May and June showing they did in fact have River tested for a specific type of mange.

After a number of negative tests, Debi said she had River on antibiotics and took him to a foster home so he could have more attention.

"The foster took River to her vet who has no history that we have been taking care of this dog at all. She thinks she is bringing in one we haven't taken care of and that is the only thing i can figure out," said Smith.

The vet found there was a problem and noted in a letter to the Montgomery County Attorney. In the letter she says she called animal control about the case in early June. That vet asked the county attorney to take action in order to ensure the safety of other dogs.

The vet's report says he was emaciated and noted multiple sores, worms, and mange.

Sadly, River had to be euthanized. The county says Debi and Ronald Smith are illegally operating a kennel in a residential district, and have 30 days to remove the animals.

Letter from the veterinarian who cared for River:

Riverside Veterinary Clinic
210 East Main Street
Radford, Virginia, 24141
540-633-3900

June 24, 2011

Dear Mr. McMahon,

This letter is in reference to River, the intact male Dalmatian that came into our clinic after being in the care of Debi Smith. I was told River had been in the foster care program for the last two months. He was found by a river in South Carolina and was known to be heartworm positive, but had never received treatment.

River presented to our clinic on May, 28th, 2011. He had been picked up from Debi Smith's home and brought directly to our clinic because his new foster care owner was concerned about his health. River was emaciated and weighed 43 pounds on presentation. This is 20 pounds underweight for the size of this dog. His skin was raw and he could not stop itching. He had decubital ulcers over both front carpi and both hocks. These are basically pressures sores from laying too long on these joints on a hard surface. The skin around his right eye was raw and he was missing much of the normal hair coat this breed should have. River was still an intact male. We quickly began his work up and confirmed him to be heartworm and microfilaria positive. He had hookworms and tapeworms and though his skin scrape was negative he was suspected of having sarcoptic mange. I had been told 3-4 other dogs residing at Mrs. Smith's house also had similar skin lesions. This dog was pathetic. In 19 years of practicing veterinary medicine this was one of the worst cases of neglect I have ever seen.

We treated River with dewormers, antibiotics, quick derm ointment, and an oxydex bath and mitaban dip for his mange. River returned again on June 7, 2011 for his second bath and dip. In that short amount of time, his skin was improving and he gained 7 pounds. He was bathed and dipped again and his antibiotics were continued because his skin and decubital ulcers were not completely healed.

On June 17th, 2011, River presented again, but this time his urinary system was blocked from bladder stones. Ultrasound and urinalysis were performed and a urinary catheter was passed to alleviate the blockage. River was sent home with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories to help with the discomfort. Sadly, he blocked again the next day and would either need surgery to relieve the obstruction or euthanasia. It was decided because River was heartworm positive that anesthesia and surgery were risky and the foster care owner elected to have River euthanized. River's poor condition and lack of treatment for his heartworms made him a poor candidate for surgery. Had these matters been taken care of in a timely manner and River been fed properly and kept parasite free, he would have been a good candidate for surgery and he would be with us today.

Mr. McMahon, I am not one to want to get involved in these types of cases, especially presenting from a rescue group, but River was in such terrible shape, I did report this case to the animal control officer in Radford on June 3rd, 2011. As a veterinarian, we are required to report cases of suspected neglect. I have never had to do that before. I think this case warrants further investigation to ensure the animals kept by Debi Smith are being cared for properly and that no harm comes to any of the other dogs. River was parasitized and not being fed enough to maintain body weight. Having a small amount of food and water available is not enough. Adequate nutrition needs to be provided daily and proper vet care, as well as proper housing. Crating dogs for too many hours is hard on their bodies and inhumane. I hope you will take what ever necessary action is needed to ensure the health and well being of this group of dogs.

Sincerely,

Julie Magyar, DVM


Case Updates

The director of a Montgomery County dog rescue group has been found not guilty of animal cruelty charges brought against her in July.

Deborah "Debi" Smith of Elliston was acquitted Tuesday in Montgomery County General District Court on one count of animal cruelty and one charge of providing inadequate care for an animal, both misdemeanors.

The Montgomery County Commonwealth Attorney's office could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Another charge of operating an unlawful kennel will be reviewed in a year, Smith said in an interview Thursday.

"It's been a nightmare for two months," Smith said of the criminal charges. "We're very relieved it's all over with and justice prevailed."

As to the alleged zoning violation for operating a kennel, Smith said she was not boarding animals as a commercial entity, but fostering homeless Dalmatians.

"We were phasing that out anyway," she said of keeping multiple dogs on her property. "We were putting them all in foster homes."

Smith has worked to rescue abandoned dogs for about 12 years, she said. She is a volunteer director of Dalmatian Rescue of Southwest Virginia, a nonprofit group that finds homes for abandoned dogs. She currently keeps seven dogs on her property and takes one to work with her every day, she said.

The criminal charges stemmed from a complaint in May about a Dalmatian named River that Smith placed in a Radford foster home. The dog had demodectic mange, a viral infection, and other health problems, but was in treatment, she said.

"River was a sweetheart of a dog," she said. "Every one of us in the rescue loved that dog. We had a home for him if we could get him better."

But, after the dog developed kidney problems, he had to be put down, she said.

According to Smith, the case was a misunderstanding by a few people unfamiliar with the rescue organization and its work.
Source: roanoke.com - Sep 30, 2011
Update posted on Sep 29, 2011 - 11:53PM 

References

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