Virginia breeder charged with 23 counts of animal cruelty

Breeder sold puppies online, used many different kennel and business names

Twenty two dogs showing obvious signs of neglect were seized from an unlicensed breeding facility in Warren County, Virginia two weeks ago. The dogs’ owner, Michael D. Smith was on probation for past zoning ordinance violations, and was not allowed to have more than four dogs at his residence. The approximately twenty dogs he was keeping on another property in a barn did not violate Smith’s probation, but the squalid conditions discovered there were enough to arrest and charge him with 23 counts of animal cruelty.

Officers with the Warren County Sheriff’s office said that Smith’s kennel has been “a problem” for years, and that he has been in court before for zoning violations. Two weeks ago, an anonymous complaint came in, reporting unsanitary conditions at the kennel. An officer was dispatched to the property and observed enough at the barn to obtain a search warrant. A statement from the Sheriff’s office dated Feb. 28th stated: “A search warrant was served on the barn on Feb 28th and 22 dogs were found in unsanitary and inhumane conditions.”

The dogs were seized, and Smith was served with 23 warrants for arrest for alleged animal cruelty, and 52 summonses for lack of county tags/rabies vaccinations. If Smith is found guilty, all counts of cruelty are punishable by up to one year in jail and up to a $2500 fine for each count.

What you see (online) is not what you get
With only a cursory search, it was discovered that Smith conducted his puppy sales using a number of websites and ads including:
-www.epetsandsupplies.com
-www.doggies.com
-www.freedoglistings.com

And he often placed ads in the Washington Post publication “Express.” (see photos right). Smith used tactics that many savvy commercial breeders use: several business or kennel names, advertising in several different places, advertising one breed at a time, or listing himself as a breeder for one type of dog rather than many at once. Chances are, his customers never knew that their adorable, expensive new puppy came from a barn.

Customers also couldn’t have known that Smith’s breeding adults were so matted and neglected that it was difficult to discern what breed they are. When authorities seized the dogs, one Poodle was so matted that his back legs were stuck together.

Better days ahead—for the dogs
The dogs are now safe, on the mend, and on their way to new homes. Middleburg Humane Foundation has been put in charge of caring for and finding appropriate homes for the dogs. A shelter representative reported: “I’m happy to say that health-wise a lot of them are doing pretty well, though a couple of them are still super freaked out. I expect that many of them will go to new homes in the next couple weeks.

Mr. Smith will be in court on March 18th to learn what his future will hold.

What you can do
-To help Middleburg Humane Foundation with the care of the dogs, go to the “how you can help” section of their website. Click here

-Know someone considering buying a dog from a classified ad or from a breeder’s site on the Internet? Share this story.

-Adopting a pet is one way you can be you’re not supporting inhumane conditions such as were discovered at Smith’s Kennel. Some breeders are very good at moving animals around, delivering puppies, and making sure that customers don’t see where the dogs are raised. Check local shelters and www.petfinder.com when looking for a new pet.

Posted by Kelli Ohrtman: Best Friends Network
Photos provided by Warren County Sheriff’s Office