KING AND QUEEN COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Authorities say two people are facing animal cruelty charges after dozens of dogs, some near death, were found at a King and Queen County home.
Deputies rescued the 20 dogs and 12 puppies from the home on Owens Mill Road in St. Stephens Church during a search warrant on Aug. 17. The owners, Richard Awlasewicz and Candice Wheat, were arrested on felony animal cruelty charges.
According to deputies, five of the dogs were found barricaded inside a dilapidated camper, where they had no food and water and were covered in feces and urine.
The remainder of the dogs were inside the residence with no water and very little food, the sheriff’s office said. The state health department and the county zoning office responded to the home, where they found several health, safety and zoning issues.
The dogs are currently being held at the King William Regional Animal Shelter.
A hearing to determine if the dogs will be returned to Awlasewicz and Wheat is scheduled for Sept. 20.
More headlines from CBS17.com:
- Sources: Security officers pulled off job at St. Augustine’s
- 2 dead as Imelda strands drivers, floods homes in Texas
- 29 years later, identity still unknown of woman found dead along I-40 in Orange County
- Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders kicks off college tour at UNC-Chapel Hill
- Canada’s Trudeau comes under fire over brownface photo
For more stories like this that matter to you, click here to download the CBS 17 News app for free.
Watch live newscasts, get breaking news and sign up for push alerts – download now
