CHARLOTTSEVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – One of three men charged in the raid of a puppy mill last June in the Free Union area has pleaded guilty to four misdemeanors in Greene County Circuit Court, while the other two will not be prosecuted. Greene County Animal Control found 81 dogs in bad shape at Shady Lane Farm, and 68-year old Nathan Yoder has pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor animal cruelty counts, while 33-year old Luke Yoder and 40-year old Maynard Swarey will avoid prosecution. All will avoid jail time as long as they pay $15,000 reimbursement to rescue organizations who cared for the seized animals, and no longer run a dog breeding facility or own a pet.
Kimberly Payne Hawk, who runs one of the organizations Dogs Deserve Better Blue Ridge, talked a year ago how quickly organizations such as hers, Green Dogs Unleashed, Sanctuary Rescue, For The Love of Poodles, Oldies but Goodies, Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA, Rad Rescue, Louisa County Animal Shelter, Volunteer Veterinarian, and Orange County Animal Control stepped up.
“It was pretty amazing, within 24 hours all 81 of the dogs were safe with rescue and/or foster,” Hawk told Cville Right Now at the time.
The judge accepted the plea deal though he told each there’s enough evidence to convict on the one felony and 24 misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. Cville Right Now has reached out to Hawk for reaction to the deal.
Jay Hart…