Barred from owning pets for two years
Two Rappahannock County residents pleaded guilty to abandonment of animals and cruelty to animals after 12 malnourished and ill-treated dogs were found in a residence in Amissville in February. Dozens of other charges, including a felony, were not prosecuted by Commonwealth’s Attorney Art Goff.
Tommy Lee Bruce, 35, and his mother, Anna Marie Nickols, 58, of Amissville appeared in Rappahannock County District Court separately Tuesday, pleading guilty to two charges each. They each were originally charged with 20 counts.
As per a plea agreement made between their attorneys and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, both Bruce and Nickols were handed down the same sentence for each charge – a $250 fine and 12 months of jail time, both suspended. They are prohibited from having companion animals of any kind for a total of two years.
“You can’t have any dogs or cats or rabbits or any other companion animal,” Judge Jessica H. Foster said from the bench. “No animals of any kind.”
Nickols’ daughter, Tracey Bruce, 38, was charged with 20 misdemeanor counts related to the dogs’ neglect–11 of which were hers, according to the complaint. All 20 counts were “nolle prossed” last month by Goff who chose not to prosecute them. She was not present in court.
A dozen distressed mixed breed dogs were found in the family’s mobile home, where they had been kept without adequate care for over three weeks, according to reports filed by Sheriff’s Deputy Crystal D. Jenkins, who responded to a complaint.
According to Jenkins’ reports, she observed several empty water pans and the floor and furniture in the residence were covered with excrement. When contacted, Bruce and Nickols told Jenkins that they would put food on the floor in a pile for the dogs to eat from “when they were able to get food for them.” The dogs had not been let outside for weeks, and several presented symptoms of renal and organ failure and needed immediate veterinary intervention. One had to be euthanized.
After receiving his sentence, Tommy Bruce spoke out in court, stating “some of the dogs weren’t mine.”
Eleven of the dogs have made a full recovery and have since been placed in adoptive homes across Virginia.
In exchange for “general good behavior” and complying with the order to not own companion animals, neither defendant will serve any jail time or pay a fine other than court costs.
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