Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 9, 1993 TAG: 9312090209
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A18 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KAREN BARNES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BEDFORD LENGTH: Medium
Ann Wallenborn was charged with failure to provide adequate food and shelter for and unlawful accumulation of 72 dogs and 26 rabbits seized from her home last week by Bedford County animal control officers.
After she arrived in court almost 30 minutes late and showed signs of disorientation and paranoia during court proceedings, General District Judge James Farmer ordered Wallenborn be psychiatrically tested at Lynchburg General Hospital. He also ordered that the animals be evaluated to determine how many should be euthanized.
A state veterinarian said the dogs' severe medical conditions wouldforce their death. "Easily a third up to a half will have to be put down," said Dr. Charlotte Robinson, a field veterinarian with the Virginia Department of Agriculture. "A lot of the animals are not socialized. They'll bite and hurt someone. They're a public health threat. Very few of the dogs are rehabilitatable."
She visited Wallenborn's 27-acre farm in July and found unacceptable conditions. Robinson then handed Wallenborn a list of 12 improvements that would have helped bring the area up to safety standards. But when she returned early last month, conditions were no better, she said.
"There was probably a foot or so of feces and wood chips in the dog pen," as well as maggots, she testified. "Sometimes you couldn't tell what color the dog was or even the breed because their skin conditions were so bad."
The dogs were flea- and tick-infested and suffering from two types of mange - including one that can spread to humans, Robinson said.
This was not the first warning for Wallenborn to improve conditions. In April, Dr. Virginia Tatum witnessed the animals' environment when she tried to vaccinate the dogs for rabies. "Some were too vicious to be held and vaccinated. . . . Some you couldn't even touch."
Robinson said all the animals had not been properly vaccinated for rabies and they presented a public health threat. "There were so many dogs running around that we couldn't count how many there were," she said.
But Wallenborn, acting as her own attorney, said her dogs were all vaccinated and needed to be returned to her. "I visited the dogs yesterday and these dogs are being starved," she said. "They need to come home to get fed and medical care and my love to thrive."
The dogs and rabbits are housed in both the Bedford County Animal Shelter and the Roanoke Valley Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The rabbits may be sold to pet stores instead of euthanized.
Wallenborn also accused Robinson and other state officials and animal control officers of harassing her. "They bully me, laugh at me and poke fun at me," she told Farmer. "Sometimes they start bullying me so bad I want to cry."
Bedford County Animal Control Officer Vincent Brads produced photographs showing conditions at Wallenborn's home that depicted large garbage piles, freely roaming animals and dogs with very little hair.
When Farmer expressed his concerns about her competence to stand trial on criminal charges, Wallenborn retorted, "I'm fine." But the judge turned the animals over to the state and said the misdemeanor charges against her would stand.
The two charges carry a $250 fine each.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Joe Kuster said an order prohibiting Wallenborn from owning other animals will be presented to the court as soon as possible.
"This makes me so mad," Wallenborn said as she was escorted by two sheriff's deputies down the courthouse stairs to a waiting patrol car. "I can't appeal if I'm locked up."
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.