LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — The discovery of two dead dogs and another emaciated dog left to fend for itself led to animal cruelty charges for a Loudoun County resident.
Loudoun County Animal Services charged Sandra Ulrike Landgraf, 70, of Sterling, with two counts of felony animal cruelty and one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty following an investigation at her home.
After receiving a call about a dog roaming near Sugarland Drive in Sterling, officers found a microchipped dog in poor condition. That led authorities to Landgraf’s home, which appeared to be unoccupied. The Loudoun County Animal Services, fire marshal’s office and sheriff’s office carried out a search warrant on Nov. 4 and found two dead two Chinese Crested mix dogs in the home. Authorities believe two other dogs had been left for an extended time in addition to the loose dog. Photos released by animal services showed hoarding conditions inside the home.
When officers got in touch with Landgraf, she said she hasn’t entered the home since spring and hadn’t provided food or water for the dogs since the last visit. The loose dog, a 10-year-old Chinese Crested mix named Elvis, likely escaped in October through a gap in the fence. According to animal services, the dog survived by eating trash, rodents, insect and the bodies of the dead dogs.
“This case is heartbreaking, in that the suffering of these dogs was completely preventable,” said Nina Stively, the director of animal services. “At LCAS, we offer a judgement-free zone for surrendering a pet that you can no longer care for. We always want to support our community’s pet owners, but there is no excuse to move out and leave your pets without food, water or care.”
Landgraf will appear in Loudoun’s General District Court on Dec. 10. If convicted, the Class 6 felony charge could lead to a sentence between one and five years in prison, up to 12 months in jail or a fine up to $2,500. A Class 1 misdemeanor conviction could lead to a sentence up to 12 months in jail or $2,500 fine per count.
In light of the animal cruelty case, Loudoun County Animal Services provided information on how to surrender a pet.
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