Harrisonburg couple sentenced for animal cruelty

HARRISONBURG, VA. — A Harrisonburg couple have been sentenced on animal cruelty charges stemming from the seizure of 31 animals.

A Rockingham County General District Court judge found 26-year-old Ronald Lee Adams and 20-year-old Tiffany Kay Dimick guilty of misdemeanor animal cruelty on Tuesday. Judge Richard Claybrook called the couple's actions "irresponsible."

Claybrook sentenced Adams to 10 days in jail. Dimick, who is pregnant, received five days of litter pickup. Both defendants also received one year of probation and were prohibited from owning animals for the next two years.

Authorities acting on a tip raided a home in Timberville on Aug. 10 and seized 31 animals, including dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rats and a squirrel. Nine animals later died..." More

Oct 14, 2009: Couple Pleads to

Animal Cruelty Charges

A couple from Timberville has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty after dozens of starving pets were removed from their home.

A couple from Timberville has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty after dozens of starving pets were removed from their home.

Tiffany Dimick and Ronald Adams entered the guilty plea Tuesday.

Both of them are ordered to pay a $100 fine and reimburse the SPCA for caring for the animals. They also cannot own animals for two years.

Adams will serve ten days in jail, but Dimick will not go to jail.

In August, deputies removed dogs, cats, rabbits and a squirrel from the home. Deputies say the animals did not have food or water.." More & video

Sept 6, 2009: Got An Animal House?

By Pete DeLea

HARRISONBURG - Queenie, a German shepherd who was among 31 animals seized from a Timberville home last month, lost her seven puppies.

Rockingham County SPCA officials say the seven puppies, along with two kittens, have died. But the remaining 22 animals - which range from cats and dogs to rabbits and rats - should be available for adoption soon.

"We already have some potential adopters, so we're very happy about that," said Anne Anderson, executive director of the local SPCA.

On Aug. 13, Rockingham County deputies and animal control officers raided a home in the 8000 block of Wine Store Road, following a tip they received the previous day.

Outside the home, deputies found 12 dogs chained to a kennel. They had little or no food and the water available was unfit to drink, deputies said.

In addition to the dogs, three rabbits, some guinea pigs, a rat, multiple cats and a squirrel were seized. The squirrel has since been transferred to the Virginia Wildlife Center.

Deputies have charged Ronald Lee Adams, 26, and Tiffany Kay Dimick, 20, both of Harrisonburg, with misdemeanor animal cruelty.

The suspects are due in Rockingham County General District Court on Tuesday.

While the criminal case moves forward, SPCA officials are attempting to nurse the animals, which were initially said to be in "poor condition," back to good health.

While some of the cats - Mary, Midnight and Patches - have respiratory illnesses, Anderson said many of the animals are gaining weight.

Megan, a black-and-white Great Dane that stands more than 5 feet tall, has become a favorite among staffers.

"She seems to be the favorite because of her personality," Anderson said..." More

Dog Photo by Pete Marovich

Animal Control Raids Timberville Home

By Ed Drantch

Rockingham County Animal Control officers confirm they seized more than 30 animals, ranging from cats and dogs to squirrels, from a home in Timberville.

Officers say they got the call Sunday night, but because there were so many animals and they didn't have the resources, they had to wait until Monday to take the animals.

The homeowner, who wished to remain anonymous, describes the inside of his home as pitiful and awful. He says he has never seen anything like it.

The homeowner called animal control on the hottest day of the year after he went to check on his rental property.

He knew there were animals inside, but he didn't expect to see the deplorable conditions that he says were nasty. He says the house is is badly damaged.

According to Rockingham County Animal Control Officer Charles Turner, he and one other animal control officer seized 33 animals from the home, ranging from dogs and cats to rats and squirrels.

Dogs were chained up outside with buckets full of water to drink and food scattered on the ground.

Inside the home, flies swarm around pens where dogs once were held. The homeowner says the renters breed German Shepherds.

The animals are now at the Rockingham County SPCA.

Charges are pending for the people who are renting the house. They have since left..." More