70 Mistreated Dogs Removed From Fauquier Property: Police

FAUQUIER COUNTY, VA — An animal cruelty investigation led Fauquier County Animal Control deputies to a property Tuesday where they found more than 70 dogs suffering from neglect, without access to food and water, and the bodies of several dead animals, authorities said.

The dogs, mostly Doberman pinschers and French bulldogs, were taken from the property, along with more than 50 hens, roosters, birds, turtles and other companion animals, authorities said.

The animal control officers took the dogs to a local center for care and shelter. Several dead animals, both dogs and chickens, were found on the property, in the 6200 block of Beverleys Mill Road, according to the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office.

Irina S. Barrett, 41, of Broad Run, was charged with felony cruelty to animals resulting in death and misdemeanor neglect of companion animals. Barrett was held on a $2,500 secured bond at the time of her arrest. Future charges are anticipated as the investigation continues, the sheriff's office said.

The dogs and other animals taken from the property are in the care of the Fauquier SPCA. The animals are currently the subject of a civil and criminal case. It will be several weeks before county authorities will know if they will be available for adoption, a sheriff's office spokesman said

People can visit the Fauquier SPCA's Facebook page for updates on the status of the animals. In the meantime, residents can make donations to the animal welfare group to help cover the costs of caring for the animals.

In late January, Fauquier County Animal Control deputies were contacted by authorities with Baltimore County Animal Control in Maryland about a dead dog reported to be owned by Barrett, the sheriff's office said. This dog, which had shown signs of prolonged neglect, was allegedly left unclaimed at a veterinary clinic in Maryland, the office said.

The dead dog was transferred to the Fauquier Health Department Agriculture Laboratory for necropsy. Animal control deputies in Fauquier County sought a search warrant for evidence of long-term cruelty and neglect possibly contributing to dog's death, deputies said. Preliminary results determined the dog did not receive adequate care and endured extreme suffering, according to the sheriff's office.

The Fauquier County Animal Control deputies then obtained and executed the search warrant Tuesday at Barrett's property.

The Fauquier County Sheriff's Office said it received assistance in the case from the Stafford County Sheriff's Office, Fauquier County Commonwealth's Attorney, Fauquier County SPCA and the Virginia Attorney General's Office Animal Law Unit.