[Maximo]

In my town, Fredericksburg, VA: Animal Rescuers charged with leaving puppies in van.

Two women who work for a North Carolina-based animal rescue group were charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty Sunday night in Fredericksburg.


City police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe said police went to the Hospitality House at 2801 Plank Road about 9 p.m. in response to a complaint from a guest. Police found four puppies inside a van with no food or water in their crates.


It was hot in the van, police said, but the puppies seem to be unharmed. They had been in the vehicle at least an hour, police said.


With the help of motel management, police connected the van to a room and found the two suspects. They work for a group called Companion Animal Rescue and Education and had stopped at the motel in Celebrate Virginia on their way back to North Carolina from New Jersey.


Gail Wells, 59, of Macon, N.C., and Melanie Bolton, 37, of Warrenton, N.C., were both charged with four misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.
They were released on summonses and forced to take the puppies into their room. They were scheduled to continue their trip home Monday morning.


Bledsoe said the women had already paid the additional fee allowing them to have animals in their room, but left the animals in the van.