On Aug. 22, I was exercising my dogs on Ft. Lewis Mountain. My satellite tracking system showed that one dog, Gerty, had gotten down to Bradshaw Road. After arriving at the address that the tracking system led me to, I could not find my dog.
There was a lady in the yard with a very sour look on her face, and I asked her about the dog. She ignored the question. After asking a second time, she went to her car, opened the rear floor where my dog was, and the dog ran excitedly to me.
I noticed her collar was gone. I asked the lady about the collar, but she ignored me. A Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived along with an animal control officer, and we found the collar about 40 feet away, unbuckled.
The collar had been unbuckled, removed and was placed behind the house on the sidewalk.
In the state of Virginia, there is a law prohibiting the removal of these collars, punishable by 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
I talked to the deputy and told him that I wanted to press charges, but he ignored my request. I then left in anger and took my dog home.
The next day, I called Montgomery County Animal Control and told them that I wanted to press charges. They said they would not, but that they would ask the Montgomery County Commonwealth’s Attorney.
The next day, they called me and said the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office would not press charges either.
So, here is where we are: Gerty and I are victims of a crime as described in the Code of Virginia [§ 18.2-97.1. Removal of a dog collar; penalty], but no one seems to care.
I am concerned that no one in our judicial system will uphold the law and why a lady, who told me that she was an animal lover and a nurse, could be so insensitive to Gerty and me.
Can anyone explain this to me? Please respond to werfortlewismtn@gmail.com
Warren Radford,
Elliston
