ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 28, 1996 TAG: 9602280062
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: DRAPER
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
Pulaski County needs stronger ordinances preventing inhumane treatment to animals, veterinarians told the Board of Supervisors Monday night.
The eight veterinarians, who treat small animals in Pulaski County, were concerned about the Solid Rock Kennel, which has prompted citizens' complaints in recent weeks.
The kennel has lost at least 27 of its animals to parvo, a virus which is deadly to dogs, and the kennel's owner, Terry Weaver, has put the animals under voluntary quarantine. State and county officials did not impose an official quarantine earlier this month when Weaver agreed to impose his own.
But at least one area veterinarian, Dr. Debra Call, said pet owners have brought in dogs as recently as this week that they said they had purchased from the kennel - dogs who have the virus.
"It is not at all a pretty way to go," said Dr. David Wood, a Draper veterinarian who said the county's regulations on animal treatment are too flimsy.
Weaver, who operates the Draper kennel as part of his Emmanuel Independent Non-Denominational Christian Church, says he has not broken the quarantine. On Tuesday, he accused county officials, law enforcement agencies, newspapers, Humane Society members and others of persecuting him because of his religion.
And he said he should have been invited to the board meeting if complaints were going to be lodged against him. "We did not have an opportunity to tell our side of the story at that meeting," he said.
Weaver said he still plans to build a larger kennel to house 500 dogs by summer on the two acres where his church is located in a Draper home. "There's nothing this county can do to keep me from doing this," he said.
Veterinarians, meanwhile, plan to meet soon with County Administrator Joe Morgan to discuss ways to strengthen animal control regulations.
Weaver's original kennel license was for only 20 animals. Worried citizens had hoped it would be revoked because he had some 100 dogs at the time. Some of those dogs have since died of parvo, and records in the county treasurer's office show that Weaver has since bought two more kennel licenses, each good for 20 dogs, for a total of 60.
Treasurer Rose Marie Tickle said her office makes no inspection of kennels, and issues licenses based on certificates showing the dogs have had rabies shots
The eight veterinarians who attended Monday's meeting, plus a ninth who signed their letter outlining concerns about the kennel and the regulations, said they are the only vets who treat small animals in the county. They said they do not believe the dogs remaining at Weaver's kennel are getting veterinary care.
"That's a lie," Weaver said Tuesday. He said he has receipts totalling more than $600 from veterinarians in and outside Pulaski County who treated his animals.
Jackie Collins, a citizen who made one of the first complaints against the kennel in January, said she had brought Animal Control Officer Joyce Crowder and a sergeant from the Sheriff's Office, to visit the kennel. Crowder then contacted local veterinarian Dr. Randy Vaughn for his opinion on whether some of the animals were in danger.
Vaughn believes they were, especially 42 puppies that were confined to a pen. They looked malnourished, he said, and were exposed to freezing temperatures.
Vaughn said he spoke with Doug Mayberry, Crowder's boss, and Morgan, the county administrator, but that neither responded to his pleas for action.
"This incident has brought to the forefront that we do not have an enforcement arm to back up what we're saying," Vaughn said. "This, to us, is a very important issue. It shows the humanity of the county. It also shows whether or not we are going to enforce the laws of the state of Virginia."
Animal health division officers from the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services investigated the kennel this month. They noted violations of state law and recommended that some of the animals be removed, according to a statement from Dr. C.S. Cunningham Jr., regional veterinary supervisor. Cunningham said he learned, when he checked later with the Sheriff's Office, that the county administrator's office had not allowed an animal control officer to remove any of the animals.
Morgan said he did not agree with all that was said during Monday's meeting. But he said he couldn't comment further because the matter was under an ongoing criminal investigation by the Sheriff's Office.
Weaver said law enforcement officials will be included in a massive lawsuit he hopes to file, because they entered his kennel when he was not present and without a search warrant.
"The next time somebody comes onto this property uninvited, I'm turning my dogs loose," he said.
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