Animal Lover - you yourself might have good intentions, but you are only repeating heresay, which gives you no credibility.  Annette might need help, but so do some of you who believe everything you hear or read!

If Ms. Thompson is too poor to buy food for the dogs , then how did she buy up the surrounding lots next to her house?  If they were purchased with shelter donations then why are they in her name…. and the name of her husband after his death?  Also who is paying for the restoration of the house right now?  I saw a full grown holstein cow in the back of a dark colored (HOT) small model truck for three months in the middle of summer.  That is worse than a veal crate!!!  Someone who went into her house told me that she had cages of animals on every kitchen counter top and the kitchen table.  Where did she cook?  Also one room had a rotten floor and the lower foot and a half of sheet rock was rotten because she had kept pigs in it!  That sounds like a hoarder to me.  Three and four years ago the falls started out with the sound of a hundred plus dogs (two hundred?) barking.  As the winter wore on the barking decreased.  By spring it was silent…. but not for long. Someone told me that she was losing so many dogs that she asked for and got donated a back-hoe to bury them with. I hope the courts do the right thing and remove the poor animals and prevent her from starting another collection.

AMEN - Patti Stinson IS a radical. She’s famous for causing trouble, stirring the pot & then walking away.  Her own group is far from perfect, but she looks the other way for them.  She likes to belittle & demean people & finds this an acceptable way to treat people.  If you ever met her in person (which I have) you would see it for yourself.  Folks, please witness things for yourself before you jump on the bandwagon of someone like Patti.  Go to Ms. Thompson’s place & witness things for yourself & make an educated opinion.  If something is awry, then great, make a stand!  (yes Patti I’ve met you & no I will not post my name so you can go after me!  Go ahead, start to belittle me & my post - I’m used to your rhetoric!

Goochland dont put Ms Thompson down . she has done a lot of good for people and animals here . dont you think our animal control and deputy are being honest when they made there statements . do not judge this case by patti stinson . she is a radical who would have all animals living in a house with a sweater and shoes on . all the while there are people 30 miles down the road living under a bridge that she could care less about . wake up people dont be fooled by these radicals .

Thank you so much Ken Odor for writing such an insightful & detailed article. The general public needs to know about what really is going on at the Pet Rescue Foundation. Hopefully, we will be meeting with Magistrate Dixon very soon. Great work Mr. Odor!

Magistrate Dixon——please do the right thing tho’ others- to save themselves- seem to be trying to make a silk purse out of a poor abused sow’s ear!-do not be intimidated-stand up for the animals who can not speak for themselves!!!!they are God’s creatures for us to protect!!!!

I have seen some of the undersocialized dogs that Ms. Thompson keeps on her property.  They were not brought in as unsocialized adults but as puppies who were then thrown into a pen to grow up afraid of humans and not allowed to socialize even with their own littermates.  They grow up being afraid of EVERYTHING that most dogs take for granted.  For example, most dogs love car rides, not Annette’s. Some shudder when they think even think of entering a car. 

Ms. Thompson has raised generations of undersocialized and feral dogs who have very little chance in navigating this world with humans.  They were MADE that way by Ms. Thompson. 

ACO Marks, I ask you why are some of the dogs borderline obese?  Well, you might not have an answer but you probably think it is because Ms. Thompson feeds her dogs well.  Yes, she may sometimes feed them well (when she has managed to beg for food) but in those times, she free feeds the dogs.  That means that they gorge on everything that she puts out knowing that they won’t have another meal for maybe days.  Also, obesity is caused by a lack of exercise.  How many times have you taken even one of those obese dogs for a walk?  Probably never because Annette won’t allow them to leave their cells.  Oops, I mean kennels.  She claims that it makes the other dogs upset.  Yes, it sure does when a dog gets out.  They all start barking because THEY WANT OUT TOO! They live for the day that someone will come and say they are leaving for good.  It won’t happen for all because Annette won’t release all of the dogs.  She has some that she is attached to and claims they are better off living alone outside in the severe hot and cold temperatures than living in a home with a family.  How in the world can that be?  Adopters aren’t all that easy to come by for a special needs dog but when one does come along that wants to adopt, she says, ‘no’ and makes up some stupid excuse. 

I sit here and wait to be contacted by Ms. Ogelsby or Ms. Dixon to provide my testimony.  I’ve waited for months with NO contact from anyone.  Why is that?  Not because my phone has been disconnected or because I’ve moved to a part of the world that doesn’t allow for contact from other humans. Nope, it is because they are dragging their feet and keep trying to pass the buck.  Ms. Thompson NEEDS to be charged and found guilty of her crimes against animals.  It has gone on way too long for the citizens of Virginia to stand for anymore of this neglect. 

Oh and also Citizens of VA, perhaps Goochland County needs to clean house, starting with their Animal Control Officers.  They are clearly not doing their jobs to the best of their ability.  Demand these tax-payer paid employees do the job they are expected to.  That means they need to be able to followup on complaints and be able to see the neglect and abuse happening in their own backyards.  It stands to reason that if EVERY OTHER COUNTY in Virginia has abuse cases that they find and prosecute that Goochland should be able to do the same to protect their animals.  Why is it that they aren’t able to see it?  Ummm, not because it isn’t there.  It’s because they don’t WANT to recognize it.

11.  On the most current visit Marks said Animal Control did have concerns about four older dogs. According to attachments to the report, Dr. James Miller examined three of the dogs on March 8 and treatment plans were agreed upon.

Response:  Is this the first time you’ve found something wrong?  Are you going to follow up to ensure that Thompson follows the treatment plans?  What if she can’t afford it?  Are you going to let the dogs suffer or are you going to take them from her?

12. Overall, Marks said his impression of the facility was favorable. “It is top notch – in number one shape,” said Marks. “Some of the animals are borderline obese.”

Response:  You’re kidding, right?  Over 75 complaints, a 150 page report detailing evidence of abuse and neglect, at least 10 witnesses, and you think it’s top notch?  Your standards are way to low Corky.  Also, “borderline obese” is NOT a good thing.

13.  Marks added Thompson told him that she now has two paid employees to assist her with the care of animals at the facility.

Response:  Really?  You believe her?  I have a really nice bridge in New York that I’ll sell you really cheap.

14.  Oglesby said it would be up to Magistrate Dixon to decide if more charges against Thompson are brought after hearing any future complaints that might be brought before her by McAfee or other concerned citizens.

Response:  Great.  I hope everyone reading this contacts Ms. Dixon to ask her to charge Thompson with 60 more counts of abuse and neglect.  Once she sees the evidencwe (150 page report), and hears ALL of the witnesses, I’m sure she’ll see that Thompson must be shut down.

Ok Goochland - you have the evidence and AT LEAST 10 eyewitnesses.  What are you going to do with all that information?  We’re all watching to see what your next move will be.

This is so good that I don’t know where to start.

1.  In an interview last week with The Gazette, Henrico resident McAfee said that more than 60 additional cases had been presented to the Goochland Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for possible action.

Response:  Good - so we can expect the Commonwealth Attorney to bring up to 60 more charges.

2.  Those charges were contained in a 150-page document provided to Goochland Animal Control and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office by McAfee.

Response:  150 pages of evidence.  Let’s see what Animal Control and the Commonwealth Attorney are going to do with all that evidence.  PS:  I told you all that there was more to come.  Believe me now?

3.  Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Nancy Oglesby said Monday she had reviewed the cases and had advised McAfee to meet with Chief Magistrate Sheena Dixon concerning the complaints, since none rose to the class 1 misdemeanor level which would involve the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

Response:  Good.  Now, Ms. Oglesby - what is your office going to do with the knowledge you’ve gleaned from all that evidence?  I suggest 60 more charges against Thompson.

4.  The first two charges arose after McAfee and a group of more than 10 other concerned animal advocates, many of whom had volunteered at the Pet Rescue Foundation, met with Animal Control and the Goochland County Attorney on February 23. After the meeting two complaints were filed by one of the animal advocates against Thompson.

Response:  To those of you defending Thompson, these are EYEWITNESS accounts of the abuse and neglect by Thompson.  They volunteered there and saw it.  Think about how many more witnesses may be out there.

5.  The state Office of Veterinary Services (OVS) visited Thompson’s facility twice in the last five years in response to complaints, said McAfee, who provided The Gazette copies of letters sent to Animal Control by the OVS as a result of those visits.

Response:  I contacted them at least several times myself, so why only two visits in 5 years?

6.  In the December 21, 2005, letter, OVS requested Animal Control follow-up and provided an update on action taken to correct a number of deficiencies the inspection noted, including frozen water dishes, insufficient cleaning of feces from dog runs and inadequate shelter.
Animal Control Officer Robert “Corky” Marks said Monday that retired Animal Control Officer Richard Bradner followed up on the deficiencies noted in that report.

Response:  Can you say “pass the buck”?

7.  OVS visited the Pet Foundation again on February 5, 2009, in response to anonymous complaints that animals were not being properly fed. On this visit an “emaciated” horse was reported, which, according to Marks, was subsequently euthanized. The horse is the subject of one of the two misdemeanor charges pending against Thompson.

Response:  Now Corky - you know that isn’t true.  Did you euthanize that horse?  Did a vet do it?  You know as well as I do that Thompson found it dead in the field one morning.  Those are her exact words to a witness.  Either she’s lying or you are.

8.  Three members of the Goochland Animal Control, accompanied by a Goochland County Deputy Sheriff, inspected the facility on March 5, 2010, according to a written report provided to the Gazette by the County Attorney’s Office.  They found 106 dogs on the property, along with about 30 cats, chickens, two rabbis, seven goats, three sheep and three horses.

Response:  She’s hiding the rest of them Corky.  You know it and we know it.  Contact me if you want to know where she’s hiding them.  By the way, she is only zoned for 100 animals (I checked with Zoning, who told me that it’s your job to enforce that), so please go out there and make her get an additional license.

9.  “There were no companion animals or livestock in need of emergency vet care,” the report stated.

Response:  Very carefully chosen words Corky.  Define “emergency” for us.  Is it ok if they don’t eat for a few days?  Is it ok if they don’t get any medical care?  Is it only an emergency if they’re about to drop dead after suffering for years?

10.  Animal Control has visited Thompson’s facility more than 75 times over the years in response to complaints, said Marks.

Response:  So you’ve had AT LEAST 75 complaints about her?  What about the complaints that you didn’t address with a visit?  75 complaints???  Didn’t that give you a hint that something is wrong?  What did you find during those 75 visits?  I think I’ll FOIA those 75 inspection reports.  You certainly don’t think that 75 people were picking on Thompson and called you just to harass her?  Certainly anyone with half a brain has to realize that AT LEAST 75 complaints points to a huge problem.