This is LONG overdue, but at least something is finally being done before even more animals suffer and die:
Nokesville auction owner charged with 58 counts animal cruelty
"When police, animal control officers and a veterinarian raided Cross States Stables at the old auction house on Va. 28 in Nokesville earlier this month, they found dozens of animals living in what one person at the scene described as a “hell hole.”
Horses, sheep, goats, rabbits, dogs and other animals were emaciated and sick with infections and parasites, police said. The living quarters were covered in feces and water containers were filthy. There was inadequate food and water.
The April 14 raid was based on a tip from a resident concerned about the animals, but it wasn’t the first time the business owner, 58-year-old Larry Sams, had faced legal trouble over his treatment of livestock.
Despite convictions in 2012 and 2013 for “inadequate care of agricultural animals,” Sams was able to continue operating the stables at 12108 Nokesville Road – until Wednesday.
Police arrested Sams and charged him with 58 counts of animal cruelty. He is being held without bond at the Prince William-Manassas regional jail. His daughter, 33-year-old Carolyn Mae Sams, was also charged with one count of animal cruelty.
During the raid, police seized 59 animals from the stables, including 28 rabbits, 18 sheep, six goats, two horses, four dogs and one bull calf. Some smaller animals were in such bad condition they had to be euthanized, police said in a news release. Authorities also found dead animals and animal body parts improperly discarded behind the barn.
During an inspection prior to the search warrant, animal control officers counted a total of 17 horses, 19 sheep, six goat, two donkeys, one cow, 27 rabbits, four dogs, 1 llama and 50 poultry birds at the stables, the release said. The animals that were not seized belong to others and were being boarded at the stables. Police are in the process of notifying the owners.
Of the animals seized, one horse suffered from a massive infection and the other was pregnant. Both are doing much better, and the pregnant mare will soon give birth, said Prince William police 1st Sgt. Kim Chinn.
Some of the animals seized are being cared for at the county animal shelter and others are being fostered.
On its website, Cross States Stables says it offers horses, pony rides, farm produce and meat, animals for sale and a livestock auction."
