Update July 30, 2008: Following a bench trial, a Carroll County, Virgnia judge has found Lanzie "Junior" Horton guilty of animal cruelty and neglect and failing to have a license for the nearly 1,000 dogs held in his commercial breeding facility. Again. 

Judge Brett Geisler upheld the ruling and sentence of the lower court. Under Virginia's new law which takes effect in January, because of his conviction, Horton will not be able to operate a commercial dog breeding business.

Horton claims he will leave the state and find a place where "you have rights".

Update June 6, 2008: Junior Horton  has appealed his conviction which means he will stand trial before a jury. The case has been set to start July 29 at 9:00 a.m. in Carroll County Circuit Court.    

Urge prosecutor, Gregory G. Goad, goad@carrollcountyva.org to prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law.

Read Animal Law Coalition's earlier reports below for information about this case of horrific abuse in a puppy mill.                                     

Update May 16, 2008: In a trial this afternoon Junior Horton has been found guilty on 14 counts of animal cruelty and 25 counts of neglect! Oh, and guilty of 1 count of failing to have a license.

Judge Edward Turner quickly found Horton guilty after a trial that began that same afternoon. During the trial the Carroll County courtroom was filled with spectators, many there to see justice done for the dogs.

Kathy Davieds, a noted local veterinarian and member of the Virginia Partnership for Animal Welfare and Support ("PAWS"), the group along with HSUS, that investigated Horton and uncovered his puppy mills, testified about the poor conditions where the dogs were kept and the lack of care. 

Judge Turner did not sentence Horton to any jail time. Instead the judge suspended the 12 year sentence and placed him on probation. The judge also suspended most of the fines. Horton was only ordered to pay $250 on each of the 14 counts of animal cruelty and $50 on each of the 25 counts of neglect. Horton was fined $25 for failing to have a license. The fines imposed totaled $4,750. The judge also indicated Horton will be responsible for paying the cost of veterinary care for the dogs when they were seized in a raid last year.   

The judge left Horton with 250 dogs. But under the new puppy mill law set to take effect in January, 2009, Horton will not be able to operate as a commercial dog breeder under Virginia law because of the convictions and, even if he could, he would be limited to keeping no more than 50 dogs over the age of 4 months. Click here for more on that new law.

Horton's attorney, Jim Ward, said an appeal is planned.

For more on the investigations into Horton's mills and the seizure of hundreds of dogs trapped in them, read Animal Law Coalition's original report below.

Original report: Following months of undercover investigation by Virginia Partners for Animal Welfare and Support, ("VA PAWS") http://www.vapaws.org/, and Humane Society of the United States, authorities raided a puppy mill operated by Lanzie ("Junior") Horton, Jr. and his family, in Hillsville, Virginia, on November 1, 2007.

Sharon Adams, executive director of Virginia Beach SPCA describes, "In November, 2007 more than 1,000 dogs were found at ...[the] "puppy mill" in Carroll County. Think about the amount of waste, feces and urine that was being produced by that facility. Where did it go, into the groundwater? Consider what happens to the carcasses of all the puppies that don't survive and the adult dogs that die of cancer, (common to breeding animals) and other disease.

"Seven hundred dogs were seized, what is the impact on the county's taxpayers when they have to provide shelter and care for those animals awaiting a court hearing?

"What does this activity contribute to the almost 117,000 animals euthanized in Virginia's shelters and pounds in 2006, mostly at taxpayer's expense? Never mind the horrible conditions these animals endure while living in their life long prisons."

On January 31, 2008 Junior was charged with 14 counts of animal cruelty, 25 counts of neglect and 1 count of failing to have the requisite county license. Junior has been released on $5,000 bond. What is shocking is that Junior has been allowed to continue to operate his mill where dogs subsist 24/7 in overcrowded makeshift cages. He has even been issued a county license to keep 200 dogs. It is believed the family covertly operates another larger mill on property owned by Junior's father.

VA PAWS and Angela Rodriguez of Fox 8 News continued the investigation into Junior Horton's puppy mill, and Fox 8 News has released these reports: Click here to watch a Fox 8 News report. For more, click here.

Adams elaborates, "USDA cannot protect us from these folks. There are not enough inspectors and not high enough standards." As Adams points out, the USDA does not even require licensng for a puppy miller, like Junior Horton, for example, that does not sell to pet stores. A miller like Junior Horton is not even regulated by the USDA."

As Lila Wills, president of VA PAWS, puts it, "[The new puppy mill law, H.B. 538, will] provide a measure for keeping commercial breeders in check. We [will] not have the issue of puppy mills like Junior Horton's [in the future]".

After several continuances Junior's trial is expected to start May 16. Please try to attend. Here are the details:  

When:  May 16^th  1:00 pm EST

Where: County Government Center

Address:  605 Pine Street Hillsville, VA 24343 

Let the prosecutor, Gregory Goad, and the Carroll County Administrator Gary Larrowe know that it is important to prosecute Mr. Junior Horton to the fullest extent of the law.

County Administrator - Gary Larrowe

Mr. Gregory Goad, Commonwealth's Attorney

Carroll County, P. O. Box 280

Hillsville, VA  24343

RE: Lanzie Horton Jr. case

Dear Mr. Goad:  

As an animal lover, I am writing this letter to encourage you in your prosecution of the Lanzie Horton puppy mill case.  I am horrified-as I expect you all are-that this man continues to be allowed to own animals of any sort.  This week, the eyes of our nation are upon you and the people who govern Carroll County, and the grave importance of your work cannot be overstated.  Please continue to set a strong example for others to follow.  Make a case that the judge cannot refuse.  Do not be swayed by people who say this case does not matter, or that Mr. Horton is being harassed by people who have no stake in your community. 

Just so you know, I do not want to tell Carroll County how to run its business. 

But I know the people of Carroll County like anyone do not want even slaughter animals to be treated with the neglect and cruelty with which Lanzie Horton has treated his dogs.  That dogs can, under the law, be permanently caged with no freedom to even walk on a leash, or roll in the grass is an outrage.  What Lanzie Horton did is worse.  It is a sin.  It is also a blatant violation of the law. 

I beg you and the Board of Supervisors to continue to take this case with the utmost seriousness as it comes to trial.  Please do not rest until these kinds of puppy mill operations are stamped out in your county, and eventually, the entire state.  Please lead the way.  The eyes of many are upon beautiful Carroll County.  Please show them that the beauty is more than superficial.

Very truly yours,           

 

Click here for more on Virginia's new puppy mill law which goes into effect in January, 2009.