The original item was published from 12/22/2017 11:30:48 AM to 12/2/2018 12:00:00 AM.

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Animal Services

Posted on: December 22, 2017

[ARCHIVED] Loudoun Man Pleads Guilty to Animal Cruelty

A Leesburg man has pleaded guilty to a charge of animal cruelty in connection with a dog attack that occurred at the boarding facility he operated at his home.

Loudoun County Animal Services (LCAS) conducted an investigation after receiving a report from the owners of the dog that was attacked. The investigation found that a large dog owned by Patrick G. Hagerty, the operator of the boarding facility, had attacked and injured a smaller dog being boarded there on August 30, 2017. In addition, the investigation found that Hagerty did not seek timely treatment from a veterinarian which put the smaller dog’s life in danger. The dog’s injuries were severely infected by the time it received treatment. The dog did eventually recover. Hagerty, 30, was charged with failure to provide veterinary care by a boarding facility and animal cruelty, a Class 1 misdemeanor.

A trial was originally set for Loudoun County General District Court for October 25, 2017, but the case was continued to December 20, 2017, after Hagerty failed to appear in court in October. On December 20, 2017, Hagerty pleaded guilty to the Class 1 misdemeanor for animal cruelty and was sentenced to six months in jail with six months suspended. Hagerty is also banned from owning any dogs, other than his current two dogs, for one year. The ban also states that Hagerty is not to have contact with companion animals for a period of one year. In addition, Hagerty was ordered to pay restitution to the owners of the attacked dog in the amount of $2,492.59. The charge for failure to provide veterinary care by a boarding facility was dismissed.

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