Convicted Puppy Mill Owner Facing New Charges
Man Ran Largest Puppy Mill Ever Investigated, Authorities Say
Convicted Puppy Mill Owner Facing New Charges - News- msnbc.com
ThePiedmontChannel.com
updated 7:48 a.m. CT, Wed., Feb. 18, 2009
CARROLL COUNTY, Va. - A man accused in 2007 of running a Hillsville, Va., puppy mill that contained more than 1,000 dogs has been charged again.
Gregory Goad, commonwealth attorney in Carroll County, said Lanzie Horton Jr. has been charged under a new Virginia state law concerning dog-breeding kennels.
The law, which went into effect on Jan. 1, makes it illegal to keep more than 50 dogs over one year old.
Goad said Horton had been charged on Jan. 27 with maintaining more than 50 adult dogs, failing to maintain adequate records on the dogs, failure to have certificates that verify the dogs are healthy enough for breeding and 12 counts of animal neglect.
Goad said the new legislation was passed "partly because of the case involving Horton."
Horton made headlines in 2007 after authorities seized about 700 of his more than 1,000 dogs.
He was charged in that case with 14 counts of animal cruelty, 25 counts of neglect and 1 count of failing to obtain a license tax.
Horton was found guilty last May, but his appeal of the animal cruelty convictions is pending in the Court of Appeals of Virginia.
He was sentenced to 14 years of probation and fined $4,775, and is also limited to having a maximum of 250 dogs at his kennels.
Authorities with the Humane Society called Horton's puppy mill the largest they had every investigated.
Goad said an associate of Horton, Donald Frazier, was also charged in connection with running a dog breeding operation.
Frazier was charged with maintaining more than 50 adult dogs, failing to maintain adequate records on the dogs, failure to have certificates that verify the dogs are healthy enough for breeding and seven counts of animal neglect.
Both Horton and Frazier have been released on personal recognizance bonds.