Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, December 11, 1993 TAG: 9312110146
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KAREN BARNES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BEDFORD LENGTH: Medium
Ann Wallenborn, 43, must post $1,000 appeal bond within seven days if she wants to fight for the return of her 72 dogs and 26 rabbits seized by animal-control officers last week.
Bedford District Judge James Farmer ordered a psychiatric evaluation for Wallenborn, who acted as her own attorney, after she appeared disoriented and paranoid in court. After being transfered from Lynchburg General Hospital, she is now at Lewis-Gale Psychiatric Center and probably will remain there for two more weeks, said Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Joe Kuster.
Wallenborn was charged with failure to provide food and water for animals and illegal accumulation of animals, and will face the two criminal charges if she is found mentally competent to stand trial. Each charge is a misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $250.
In the meantime, several dogs have been euthanized, and more will be destroyed this weekend because of severe medical conditions including flea and tick infestation and mange. Some of the animals are so sick they might not live through the weekend, Kuster said.
Vincent Brads, Bedford County animal warden, estimated that 15 dogs will be euthanized over the weekend at the shelter. As many as 14 others at the Roanoke Valley Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will be destroyed, said Director Tammy Javier.
The animals were evaluated on Thursday by Dr. Charlotte Robinson, a veterinarian with the state Agriculture Department.
Robinson testified Wednesday about conditions at Wallenborn's 27-acre farm. During a recent inspection, she found that dogs were held in overcrowded pens piled a foot deep in waste and wood chips. She said many of the dogs had such severe skin conditions that she couldn't tell what breed or color they were.
Farmer did not act on a suggestion from Kuster that Wallenborn never be allowed to own animals again.
Wallenborn, reached by telephone at Lewis-Gale, said she has retained an attorney and she accused county animal wardens of neglecting her animals. "These county people would rather kill a dog than treat it," she said. "Evidently, they're not treating them for mange and worms, because they've gotten much worse. When they were brought in, they weren't that bad."
But Robinson and Javier both said they are committed to saving as many of the animals as they can. About 20 people have called volunteering to adopt and rehabilitate some of the dogs, Javier said.
by CNB