By Lisa Gallo
About seven months after authorities seized nearly 1,000 dogs from his Hillside, Va. property, Lanzie Horton Jr. was ordered to pay about $45,000 in fines and serve a 12-year suspended prison term for several counts of animal cruelty and neglect.
The Nov. 1, 2007 bust at the Virginia breeder's facility quickly became known as the largest puppy mill rescue in U.S. history. It all started when VA PAWS workers showed Carroll County officials footage taken by The Humane Society of the United States as part of its five-month undercover investigation into Virginia puppy mills. Authorities subsequently confronted Horton with the video evidence and, the next day, Horton agreed to voluntarily release a large majority of his animals to authorities.
Carroll County General District Judge Edward Turner found Horton guilty of 14 counts of animal cruelty, 25 counts of animal neglect and one count of not obtaining a license, in mid-May. Turner ordered Horton serve 12 years in prison, but suspended the sentence. The judge fined Horton $2,500 for each cruelty count, $2,250 of which was suspended, and $500 for each neglect count, $450 of which was suspended. He imposed the mandatory $25 fine for failure to obtain a dog license and ordered Horton pay restitution for the to-be-determined cost of veterinary services provided for the dogs.
Carroll County Commonwealth Attorney Gregory Goad called local veterinarian and member of Virginia Partnership for Animal Welfare and Support Dr. Kathy Davieds as his first witness. She testified to the poor living conditions at Horton's facility.
Next, Dr. Heather Jenkins, one of several veterinarians involved in triage following the seizure of the dogs, testified about the dogs who had the most serious medical conditions, some of whom did not survive. Both witnesses provided compelling testimony that highlighted the general neglect and continuing lack of appropriate medical care of these animals, particularly those used for breeding.
Defense attorney Jim Ward called Horton to testify on his own behalf. Horton admitted that he had too many dogs and could not adequately care for them. Ward also called to the witness stand two veterinarians: One visited the Horton property annually to provide medical services and one assisted with triage following the seizure of the dogs.
Turner said he was concerned because Horton previously had a very large operation. He ordered Horton maintain no more than 250 dogs in the future; reminding him that he would be carefully supervised by Carroll County Animal Control to ensure compliance.
Lisa Gallo is public policy coordinator for The HSUS's Stop Puppy Mills Campaign.
