NELSON COUNTY, Va. (WSET) — Dog lovers in Nelson County were very happy Wednesday evening after a judge ruled to uphold an animal seizure.
Animal control seized six dogs and found one dog dead a couple of weeks ago at a Nelson County man’s home. Wednesday, the owner, Robert Shell, was fighting the seizure in court.
Those in the courtroom could see the judge was visibly upset with the conditions these dogs were living in. The courtroom erupted in applause as the judge made his ruling on Wednesday.
On top of upholding the seizure, the judge ruled that Shell will no longer be able to have other companion animals and will have to pay the vet fees for the dogs they took.
Dozens of dog lovers came out to show their support because they had heard some of the details of this case.
Kimberly Hawk, the president of Dogs Deserve Better Blue Ridge, said, “We all came to support the seizure. Knowing what we know about the conditions there, we did not want them returned to the owner.”
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The dogs were seized just about two weeks ago. They said they found the dogs inside Shell’s home with no food or water.
They said there was a horrible smell coming from his home. Animal control testified that this was “quite a while’s worth” of urine and feces all over the ground. They also found a dead puppy in a box.
Erik Laub, the acting Nelson County Commonwealth’s Attorney, said, “All six of the surviving canines were all emaciated, they had missing hair, they were diseased.”
“It just makes me very sad to think about these puppies up there, abandoned and kind of fending for themselves,” Hawk said. Hawks said Dogs Deserve Better had been to Shell’s house multiple times over the past year. They have put up shelters for two dogs that used to be chained up outside. Those dogs were not the dogs seized, according to Hawk.
Witnesses said the dogs are being treated for fleas, parasites and more. They are currently at a vet and are in the Commonwealth’s care.
Shell testified that he left the dogs only for a weekend because he had gotten sick and needed help. He said he did not leave them in that condition and that he loved his dogs.
However, the judge did not believe that conditions could have been created over only one weekend.
I asked Shell for an interview after court. He said he was not available but said he might be at a later time.
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