ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, June 6, 1996 TAG: 9606060058
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: DRAPER
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA STAFF WRITER
Sheriff's deputies seized 31 dogs and cats from the Solid Rock Kennels Tuesday evening after serving a search warrant at the controversial kennel. Officials now are looking for the kennel's operator to press 31 counts of cruelty to animals against him.
Capt. Mike Alderman said the kennel's operator, Terry Weaver, and Weaver's fiancee and owner of the property, Annette Jenkins, were not home for the search.
"There was no bed in the house and there were packed boxes," Alderman said. "They had been running an ad in the paper to rent the house."
Alderman said Jenkins also swore out an assault and battery warrant Friday for her fiance's arrest. But authorities believe Weaver and Jenkins are still together and are trying to move out of state, Alderman said. Both vehicles were not at the house when officers arrived, and some of the animals did not have food or water.
Randy Vaughn, a veterinarian, said all but two of the animals were brought to his office first because it was nearest to the kennel. By Wednesday afternoon, Vaughn said he was still giving the animals physicals, but each one was infested with numerous internal parasites such as hookworms.
Most of the animals were "ravenous" when they arrived at Vaughn's office and raced to bowls of food, he said.
"They don't appear as emaciated as we had seen earlier this year, and that's encouraging," Vaughn said. "Some have eye or ear problems that should have been taken care of from the beginning; we're trying to get them out of a stressful situation."
Weaver told a reporter last month that he closed the kennel May 21 because of harassment by Pulaski County officials who drove by the property taking pictures and issuing warnings about zoning violations.
Weaver had called the kennels a ministry of Emmanuel Independent Non-Denominational Christian Church, where he was a pastor. The church was closed at the same time as the kennel, according to Weaver.
County Administrator Joe Morgan had written Jenkins saying the property would require a site plan and other zoning conditions. Weaver argued that because the kennel was part of the church it should not be considered a business subject to zoning requirements.
Now the dogs, cat, kittens and puppies seized Tuesday are being cared for by local veterinarians and the Pulaski County Humane Society. They are also bearing the costs.
Vaughn said some of the animals are underweight for their breed, but he believes most of the animals will make good pets.
"We won't be able to place the animals until a judge rules," Vaughn said.
Cruelty to animals is a misdemeanor and carries a penalty of up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Weaver.by CNB