VIRGINIA -- Failing to care for multiple dogs earned a King William County man two months in jail Thursday in general district court where he was convicted on eight counts of animal cruelty.
Deon Selvanius Washington, 27, pleaded no contest to all eight misdemeanor charges, meaning he did not dispute them. Eight counts of failure to provide adequate water or shelter were dropped.
District Judge Steve Hudgins sentenced Washington to 30 days on each count for a total of eight months in jail. However, Hudgins suspended all but 60 days of the sentence.
Commonwealth attorney Matthew Kite presented a slide show of photos to the court, showing the condition of the dogs, green water in buckets and what he called shelters constructed with "minimal effort."
"The pictures speak for themselves," he said. "The court sees these cases from times to time, and the pictures are always remarkably the same. These dogs were not in a condition that could be considered remotely healthy."
An anonymous call about numerous dogs in poor condition at Washington's home in the 1400 block of Hybla Farm Road caused sheriff's deputies to respond to the property on Sept. 17, 2014, according to a criminal complaint against Washington. It adds the caller reported there was a dead dog at the residence, but no deceased animal was found.
The document states 17 adult dogs and puppies were seized from the property, and another 15 were left. It notes many were underweight and had medical issues.
A 10-month-old hound puppy needed help to stand and was determined to have hook and whip worms, lyme disease and other problems, according to the complaint. The document indicates an 8-year-old female hound had conjunctivitis in both eyes, worms, ear mites and a tumor in her lower leg.
Defense attorney Shameka Hall argued that Washington changed the water when it needed to be changed and did treat his dogs for fleas and ticks, contending that maybe the insects had become immune to the medicine. She said Washington has other dogs and there have been no problem with those animals.
"We're not here because of fleas and ticks," Kite said.
Kite told the court three dogs seized had to be euthanized, one as a result of health issues and two others because they could not be adopted. He said one puppy also died while at the shelter.
Hudgins also ordered Washington to pay $120 in restitution to the veterinarian who treated the dogs after they were found. Kite said Washington had already made restitution to the Regional Animal Shelter in the amount of $1,522.81 for costs related to the housing and treatment of the dogs.
(West Point Tidewater Review - Apr 7, 2015)
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