Twenty-two dogs are now getting expert care in Fluvanna County. All were seized from one home and from living conditions described as unsanitary. The German Shepherds were taken by animal control from a home on Bremo Road.

All but three of the dogs are being cared for by Fluvanna's SPCA. Their owner, Jennifer Brooks, faces 44 charges: 22 charges of animal cruelty, and 22 charges of failing to adequately care for the dogs. a warrant has not been served yet, but a petition has been filed.

  (Photo courtesy of NBC29)

We're told the dogs were not starving but a veterinarian judged their living conditions as unsanitary. Commonwealth's Attorney Jeff Haislip said, "We had a veterinarian go out and look at the conditions and his opinion was the animals safety and health were in danger."

The magistrate's office was petitioned to have the dogs seized. Haislip stated, "You know there's a difference between caring about your animals and caring for your animals. It's obvious she cared about them, our concern is they weren't being cared for."

Nineteen of the dogs are now at the Fluvanna County SPCA; the other three are in the care of a veterinarian. Tricia Johnson of the Fluvanna County SPCA said, "Right now the dogs are just being well fed, watered. They're in clean surroundings." Johnson says the number one priority is the health of the dogs.

  (Photo courtesy of NBC29)

The commonwealth's attorney says his office only gets involved in cases like when it absolutely has to. Haislip said, "We seize animals as a last resort. We know it's hard on the animal owner, it's hard on the tax payer because it's expensive."

The commonwealth's attorney says that ten of the dogs have been relinquished by the owner and are going to the German Shepherd rescue. A judge will determine what happens to the remaining 12 dogs. A court date is set for next week.

Brooks says she is heartbroken, loves her pets, and wants them back.

Brooks says she had a medical procedure last week and hasn't been staying at her Bremo Road home. She did have someone feeding the dogs, but when a veterinarian was called to the house, he said the conditions the dogs were living in were unsanitary.

Brooks said, "I don't want people to think that I'm abusing them. They're loved, they're cherished."

She'll have to go to court to fight for the other 12. She says she is prepared to do so

Update 3/8/11: The Fluvanna County woman whose 22 German Shepherds were seized from her Bremo Road home appeared in court and tried to fight for the remaining 12, but the court decided Brooks is not getting her 12 dogs back.

The judge indicated Brooks is unfit to care for the dogs and ordered they remain in the care of Fluvanna Animal Control.

Brooks was stunned by the decision. After presenting their tags and records to the judge and telling him about a new cleaner home for them.  "I have done everything. I'm moving into a whole different house and the kennels are going to be in a whole different place," said Brooks.

But, for the judge, that was not enough.  The commonwealth's attorney's office presented its case against Brooks, including an animal control officer who said the dogs were living in unsanitary conditions.

Some of the dogs were outside and covered in mud and feces. Others were inside and living in the same conditions.

Jeff Haislip, the commonwealth's attorney said, "As the evidence showed, we dealt with this three years prior, not to this extent. And I think the judge indicated he felt this could certainly happen again."

 (Photo of Jeff Haislip, Fluvanna Commonwealth's Attorney, courtesy of NBC29)

Brooks has relinquished 10 of her dogs, most of the others are at the Fluvanna County SPCA. She has visited them several times.

"Obviously she cares for the animals very much, but that's not really relevant to the question of whether they were living in a situation they should have been in," said Haislip

Brooks wants all of her dogs back, but says she would settle for the six indoor dogs and plans on appealing.

Brooks added, "Jennifer the oldest dog is 15.5 years-old, they don't know anyone but me."

The commonwealth's attorney said he's sorry it had to come to this, but is pleased with the outcome.

Update 4/14/11:  A Fluvanna County woman charged with animal cruelty has been reunited with some of her pets, but not all of them.

On March 1, 22 dogs were seized from Jennifer Brooks' home after reports of animal cruelty and unsanitary conditions. Brooks pleaded guilty to one count of cruelty to animals and four counts of failing to adequately provide for them. But both the defense and the commonwealth's attorney agree this was not a case of intentional harm.

Jennifer Brooks says the past few weeks can be best summed up in just two words. "Separation anxiety," she said, "the dogs have been going through it, too. I miss them terribly."

Last month, her 22 German Shepherds were seized from her home on Bremo Road in Fluvanna County. After weeks of fighting in court to get them back, she has accepted a plea agreement.

Brooks stated, "Things haven't gone well. I am getting the three oldest dogs back, which is good, and I appreciate that, but I have concerns as to what's going to happen with the rest of them."

Brooks was given a 3-year jail sentence but that sentence was suspended on a number of conditions, one of them being that she must give up 19 of her dogs and keep only the three oldest.

Fluvanna Commonwealth's Attorney Jeff Haislip said, "Those dogs are 15, 11 and 10 years old and in varying stages of ill health. We felt that under the circumstances, carefully monitored, they'd be better back in her possession at her new residence with new surroundings than at the SPCA where they would be difficult to adopt out."

Brooks will undergo a psychological evaluation and will be put on suspended probation for one year. She will also be responsible for paying $4,500 in restitution to the county to help pay for the boarding and care of the animals.

The judge says it's clear this was a case of a woman with medical issues who took on more animals than she was capable of taking care of.  "If there had been any indication that this was an intentional infliction of harm to the animals, I never would have agreed to return even the three back to her," Haislip stated.

Brooks is now living in a new home with new kennels for her three dogs to live in. Animal control will check on the dogs periodically to make sure they're being properly cared for.

As for the 19 dogs that were seized they're all doing well, and some are available for adoption from the Fluvanna County SPCA.

Update 5/12/11:  Jennifer Brooks, the dog owner recently convicted on an animal cruelty charge, has been arrested for violating court orders.

Brooks was given a 3-year jail sentence but that sentence was suspended on a number of conditions, one of them being that she must give up 19 of her dogs, keep only the three oldest, and take good care of them.

Brooks was arrested again after animal control officers found her at her old residence, which she was ordered to stay away from, and she had four dogs.

Brooks posted bond and will make an appearance in Fluvanna County Circuit Court.

Update 5/13/11:  The woman who lost custody of her 22 German Shepherds is facing new legal hurdles in Fluvanna County. Jennifer Brooks was back in court after being arrested a second time.

Last month animal control officers seized 22 dogs from Brooks' Bremo Road home before granting her custody of three of them. Animal control took those three back on, citing poor conditions in her home and the fact she had a fourth dog with her.

Judge John Berry ordered that Brooks not possess any companion animals pending the results of a June 3rd trial.

She's also not allowed to visit the Fluvanna SPCA because of her behavior. Brooks said she would go and take pictures of the dogs their and bring them treats.

Commonwealth's Attorney Jeff Haislip says Brooks should never be allowed to care for an animal again. "No. No, we gave her an opportunity to prove that she should and we feel that she shouldn't."

Despite these latest charges Brooks is in the middle of renovating and moving into a new home with the hopes of one day regaining custody of those dogs.

Brooks stated, "They're not just dogs. They're not chattel to me. They're my children. I don't have biological children. They're it."

Brooks also says she's been harassed by animal control for years and she's planning a lawsuit.

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