VIRGINIA -- A Sterling man has been fined and sentenced to perform community service after pleading guilty in Loudoun General District Court to a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty.
Gary Rouse, 49, was charged after a search warrant was executed on his Sterling home by the Loudoun County Department of Animal Services in December. Rouse’s dog, an adult female Dogue de Bordeaux, was seized from the home and was given into the custody of Animal Services a week later.
Chief of the Animal Control Division Adrienne Burton said the investigation began as a neglect and abandonment case after a tip was received at animal control.
“It was brought to our attention that they were apparently no longer in the home,” Burton said. “We were able to verify that there was a neglect issue and [the dog] had been abandoned in the home.”
The home was one that had been known previously to animal control officers. As required by Virginia law, the officers posted the property for five consecutive days in an attempt to contact the owner. But after three days of no contact and given the information received about the condition of the dog, officers secured a search warrant and seize the dog on the fourth day.
Burton said when the dog was severely emaciated. “We worked tirelessly with her for weeks,” she said. But unfortunately, because of her severe condition, animal control’s veterinary staff could not save the dog. Burton said the dog was older, but that “her age was always a guess to us.”
Rouse was sentenced to perform 60 hours of community service and to serve 180 days in jail, suspended for two years pending good behavior. Rouse also was ordered to pay approximately $1,800 in fines and is prohibited from possessing or owning any animals for a period of two years.
(Leesburg Today - Apr. 26, 2013)
