DINWIDDIE COUNTY, Va. – A total of 21 dogs were found dead in kennels at a Virginia home, according to Dinwiddie County Fire and EMS officials.
Authorities say they were called to the scene in the 12000 block of Boydton Plank Road on Friday to perform an animal welfare check.
"[Animal Control Officers] located a kennel containing 10 individual dog pens and a common run area. Inside of those pens and run, officers found 21 deceased dogs and one surviving dog," a Dinwiddie Fire and EMS spokesperson said. "All of the dogs appear to have been a hunting breed commonly referred to as walkers or walker hounds."
Floyd McNeil Maitland, who owned the dogs, was charged with two felony counts of animal cruelty.
"As the investigation moves forward, additional charges may be brought in the case," the spokesperson said.
The surviving dog is expected to fully recover.
The deceased dogs were taken to the Lynchburg Regional Animal Health Laboratory to determine cause of death.
This story was originally published by Wayne Covil at WTVR.
