2008.11.18
Carroll County dog breeder wants dogs back
By Laurence Hammack
981-3239
Winesett was the chief dog warden in Carroll County for a 10-year term that ended in the late 1980s. He said he recently got back into the dog business, building a kennel next to his home and selling dogs through newspaper ads.
"I've been raising dogs for many, many years, and I feel like I'm fairly well versed in it," he said.
However, a search warrant used by Virginia State Police on Thursday to seize the dogs described their living conditions as "deplorable."
A person who reported the case to police described a scene of neglect and abuse, providing photographs that showed "a large amount of animal feces and urine on the floor and surrounding areas of the kennel," the search warrant stated.
Winesett has not been charged. Sgt. Michael Conroy of the state police said authorities plan to meet with the Carroll County commonwealth's attorney before deciding what, if any, charges to bring in the coming weeks.
The identity of the person who reported Winesett to state police is not known. A spokesman for an animal welfare group, the Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force, has said the organization received a tip from a concerned citizen, which was passed along to authorities.
Although he did not name any individuals, Winesett said he was a victim of a radical animal rights movement that is opposed to anyone keeping a large number of dogs to breed and sell.
Even though Winesett was not charged at the time of Thursday's raid, state police and officials with the state veterinarian's office took custody of his dogs under a law used to protect animals from neglect and abuse.
The dogs are being cared for by Angels of Assisi, a Roanoke animal shelter.
Problems with unregulated dog breeders and sellers, also known as puppy mills, led the Virginia General Assembly to crack down on the industry with a set of laws that will take effect Jan. 1.
Among other things, the legislation will limit businesses to no more than 50 adult dogs per location, unless directed otherwise by a local ordinance.
Winesett said he had valid tags for up to 100 dogs at his kennel, and that he had rabies shot certifications for all of the animals that were seized by state police -- including three personal pets: his two coon hounds and his wife's English bulldog.
Terry Woods, chief animal control officer for Carroll County, said Monday that it appeared Winesett had all of his required paperwork. As for the conditions of the kennel, Woods said an animal control officer recently went to the business after receiving a complaint through the state Department of Agriculture.
That officer was off Monday, Woods said, and he did not have details from the inspection. According to Winesett, only a few minor problems were noted by the local animal control officer.
Woods said his office was not involved in Thursday's raid of the kennel.
Meanwhile, a civil hearing will soon be held in Carroll County General District Court to determine the ownership and placement of the dogs. Winesett said he has hired an attorney and plans to be there.
He wants his dogs back, he said.
Galax Gazette reporter Christopher Brooke contributed to this report.
