Deputies have seized 58 dogs that were living in "deplorable" conditions in what the Patrick County Sheriff's Office has deemed an "extreme case" of animal cruelty.
A Patrick Springs mother and son have both been charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty, according to Sheriff Dan Smith.
The sheriff stated that animal control officers and sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant at a home on Blueberry Lane in Patrick Springs on Wednesday afternoon. Caroline Laprad, 89, and her son Charles Dean Laprad, 54, were both arrested and each charged with 14 counts of cruelty to animals, all misdemeanors.
The search warrant was part of an ongoing investigation into conditions at that home.
The county’s animal control officer stated that he had visited the home in late May and saw that multiple dogs appeared to be suffering from severe skin conditions and other signs of neglect. He said that he spoke to Charles Laprad at that time and told him to seek veterinary care for the dogs.
Officers went to the home on Wednesday to conduct a follow-up investigation regarding the conditions of the animals to see if improvement had been made since May. The animal control officer said that the conditions had “worsened since May, and we had to find immediate care for the dogs.”
In total, officers seized 58 dogs from inside the home and from a small fenced in area attached to the home. The animal control officer stated that the dogs ran freely from inside the house into the fenced area outside and that conditions were deplorable. He said that Charles Laprad offered a significant amount of verbal resistance and had to be arrested.
The Humane Society of Virginia was contacted and Angels of Assisi Animal Rescue from Roanoke responded to the scene and transported the animals to their shelter. Smith said that the animals will receive veterinary care while they are being boarded.
The 14 charges are a result from the dogs in the worst physical condition of the 58 dogs seized. The sheriff stated that Angels of Assisi staff members have said that they are hopeful that many of the dogs can eventually be adopted out once their conditions improve, pending the outcome of the court process.
It is a felony if any companion animal dies as the result of the neglect of injury, so charges could be upgraded if any of the seized dogs die.
Charles Laprad is being held in the Patrick County Jail without bail and Caroline Laprad was released on a recognizance bond.
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https://www.wsls.com/news/virginia/southwest-virginia/patrick-county-mother-son-charged-in-extreme-case-of-animal-cruelty