ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 27, 1997 TAG: 9703270065
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
Authorities aren't sure if the penned dog on Valery Green's property is hers.
It's been two weeks since a Franklin County circuit judge refused to return Valery Green's 119 cats and dogs and ruled she no longer could possess any pets.
On Wednesday, two Franklin County animal control officers - acting on a citizen complaint - went to Green's home and found a dog in a fenced pen.
"It was a small one," said Officer Marvin Woods. "We took photographs."
Woods and Officer Steve Lynch said they did not speak with Green.
An order was issued Wednesday that requires her to appear in court April 8 to explain the dog's presence.
Green did not return a message left on her answering machine Wednesday.
Franklin County Commonwealth's Attorney Cliff Hapgood, who prosecuted Green's highly publicized case, said there had been discussion about how to make sure Green was abiding by the court order prohibiting her from owning cats or dogs.
"But I wasn't expecting to have to deal with it this quick," he said.
Green has a son, and Hapgood said the dog could belong to him.
Green has faced numerous animal-care charges in several localities in the region. Her Franklin County court battle pitted her against the county Humane Society.
The organization filed a civil charge against Green and took her to court to fight for custody of her animals. Humane society volunteers - with court order in hand - seized Green's animals Jan. 3.
Witnesses testified there wasn't enough food and water for the animals and that feces covered the floors of Green's home. A veterinarian who cared for some of Green's animals said they hadn't been properly socialized. One cat walks around in circles all the time, and another was brought in with part of its jaw missing, the veterinarian said.
Criminal charges also were filed against Green for animal cruelty and operating a kennel as a nuisance. Green's animals were taken away from her in January by General District Judge George Jones.
Several weeks later, Jones found her guilty of the criminal charges. Green appealed.
On March 11, Circuit Judge B.A. Davis III told Green that she's incapable of caring for animals and awarded custody of the cats and dogs to the humane society, which is now overseeing their adoption.
Davis didn't act on the criminal charges.
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