Man Pleads Guilty In Abuse Of Dog In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA—An Alexandria man pleaded guilty to animal cruelty for abusing a dog in March. Orlando Grigsby of Alexandria will serve 90 days in jail and two years of probation, and will not be able to own animals for the rest of his life.

On March 6, residents reported a man yelling and slamming a dog by the collar into a telephone pole and fence, according to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. (Subscribe to get Virginia Patch News Alerts and a newsletter. iPhone users can download the Patch app in the App Store. Plus, like Old Town Alexandria Patch or Del Ray Patch on Facebook.)

Police and AWLA's Chief of Animal Services Brian Rees responded and took the dog, Missy, to the animal hospital. A veterinarian found Missy had bruising on her stomach relating to blunt-force trauma, as well as cuts on her legs, and bleeding nails.

The AWLA shelter took care of Missy while she healed, and found her a new home once awarded custody in April.

Rees, attorneys from the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, responding Alexandria police officers, veterinarian Dr. Andrew Ayre, and other witnesses from the incident testified during the June 26 trial.

"AWLA sees this sentence as a major step forward in the seriousness in which the City of Alexandria and the Commonwealth of Virginia are taking animal abuse and neglect cases like Missy," AWLA said in a statement.

Image via Animal Welfare League of Alexandria