Sentenced: Vernon Silver Allowed 21 Puppies To Die & Liquify In Their Cages

[Sugar Cookie]

A man who deprived 21 puppies of adequate food, water and treatment – leading them to die and decompose before being found – declined Tuesday to contest 65 animal cruelty-related charges and one count of dogfighting.

Vernon Silver, 59, entered an Alford plea, meaning he didn’t admit guilt but acknowledged that prosecutors had enough evidence to convict him. He had been scheduled to start a jury trial Tuesday in Hampton Circuit Court.

Last March, Hampton police and animal control officers went to a home for a welfare check after local workers complained of a smell.

They arrived to find 21 dead dogs, and one living but severely malnourished dog, in cages and crates.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Anton Bell said all of the animals were pit bull puppies.

They were decomposing, “severely emaciated” and “liquefied in their cages,” an animal control officer wrote in an affidavit. Officers also found what they called dogfighting paraphernalia, including bite sticks, syringes and horse and cow medications consistent with those used to heal dogfighting wounds.

One surviving dog, dubbed Lucky by animal rights activists last year, has since been adopted, according to the Daily Press.

Silver told police he’d fallen ill a few weeks before the dogs were found. He was a maintenance worker for the home’s owner, according to court documents.

He will be sentenced in March.

Bell said he plans to ask for a sentence of one year for each dog, which is above state guidelines.

“Do I want to send a message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated in our city? Absolutely,” Bell said by phone on Tuesday. “But the gruesome nature of the case itself and the fact that he’s a repeat offender, those are factors going into my decision for an aggressive sentence.”

Silver had previously faced at least 20 animal cruelty-related charges in Hampton, all but four of which were dropped a few years ago. For the others, his 10-day sentence was suspended.

Bell said that in March, he’ll submit photos of the scene he would have brought to the trial.

“I think seeing a puppy turned to liquid is pretty impactful,” he said. “We really want to make sure people understand the horrific nature of animal abuse.”

https://pilotonline.com/news/local/crime/article_a7dbde6a-fb90-5117-b519-92b22aac40d1.html

 

[Keepalowprofile]

Puppy soup.

 

[Sejanus]

Let him liquify in a cell.

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Vernon Silver will spend a little more than eight years behind bars for depriving 21 pit bull puppies of adequate food, water and treatment – leading them to die and decompose before being found.

The 59-year-old was sentenced Wednesday morning in Hampton Circuit Court, according to Commonwealth’s Attorney Anton Bell.

Silver had entered an Alford plea earlier this year, meaning he didn’t admit guilt but acknowledged that prosecutors had enough evidence to convict him, on 65 counts related to animal cruelty and one count of dogfighting.

Bell said in a text message that he’s happy with the punishment. He had asked the judge for an aggressive sentence of one year for each dog and one year for dogfighting.

“I do not know of any animal abuse case where a sentence has been as stiff,” he said. “We are very pleased with the outcome. Moreover, the citizens and animal activists that showed up were extremely grateful for our tough stance.”

https://pilotonline.com/news/local/crime/article_9f7b4d0a-3d7f-11e8-8f0a-43a70da56126.html

 

[Brillig]

Liquefy. Eww. Brings back a memory.

When I was a child, I always had elaborate funerals for any pets that died, even goldfish. I would use a small box as a coffin (Barbie boxes were perfect), and decorate the box, and make a little pillow and blanket. Then I would have a funeral and bury the caskets in a flower bed in the back yard. One time a hamster died, and I was out of boxes, so I used a plastic margarine container instead, and buried him with full honors.

Fast forward 20 years, and my Mom asks me to do some work in her yard, including turning the soil in some flower beds where she wants to plant some bulbs. I comply, and in one flower bed, I come across an odd item.... a small tupperware-like container. Filled with brown liquid. WTF could it be and why is it in a flower bed?? I was about ready to open it and find out when it hit me.... holy crap, isn't this the flower bed I used as my pet cemetery?!? Yes it was, and while the many pets buried in cardboard boxes had all completely returned to the earth, the hamster in the margarine tub had not been so lucky.

Moral of the story... never bury a pet in Tupperware.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

Dead puppies aren't much fun.

 

[Benighted]

Dead puppies aren't much fun.

Thanks for the earworm

 

[Busy Bee]

So good to see that they are enforcing these laws. Good to know he will spend the next 8 years thinking about it! He should have to spend a year on each count, that would be 65 years that seems a better punishment to me! He should also have a lifetime ban on owning any animal! Anyone who enjoys seeing dogs fight, hurt and injure each other is mentally ill or just mean and evil! The dogs are mentally damaged and hard to rehome without intense therapy.( some never recover) This man should have to be financially responsible for what ever care they need for the rest of their lives . Just because the owner fell ill is absolutely no excuse at all! His cell should be papered with the pictures taken by the investigators of the dead puppies liquefied in their cages! The complaint should also be included! In several languages! That’s horrible, you know those sweet puppies were in horrid distress! I do hope those 8 years are miserable for him!