Bonds revoked in animal cruelty case

By Elisa Glushefski

Published: July 25, 2008

Two women charged in an animal cruelty case had their bonds revoked in Prince William County this for allegedly violating their bail conditions, court documents state.

Sandra Irene Cortes, 44, and Brenda Dodson, 30, are now being held without bond at the Prince William-Manassas regional jail and each is charged with one count of grand larceny and six counts of animal cruelty in Fairfax County, in addition to the 28 counts of animal cruelty each is facing in Prince William, authorities said Friday.

All charges relate to the Assisi's Animal Rescue Foundation. Police say Cortes, of 4004 Rose Lane in An-nandale, owned the business and Dodson, of 7605 Centreville Road near Manassas Park, was a live-in care-taker.

When the women were arraigned on the Prince William charges on July 2, the judge ordered them not to keep any animals in their custody.

But less than three weeks later, Fairfax County police say they found six dogs living in squalid conditions that they have connected to both women.

After receiving a complaint July 18, Fairfax County officers found six dogs inside a vacant house scheduled to be demolished on Vale Street in Alexandria.

There was no food or water for the dogs and the floors were covered in animal urine and feces, said Lucy Caldwell, a Fairfax police spokeswoman.

There was also no power, ventilation or water service, she said.

The six dogs were taken to the animal shelter and three have since been claimed by their owners, Caldwell said.

Several of the owners told police they had posted notices on Craigslist in search of temporary pet care and others said they were looking for homes for dogs they could no longer keep, according to police.

Cortes and Dodson allegedly responded to the advertisements and took the dogs into their possession using the name of Assisi's Animal Rescue Organization.

Police are still investigating how long some of the animals had been under the care of the two suspects, Caldwell said.

During the Prince William police investigation into Assisi's, officers discovered dozens of diseased and

malnourished dogs in the women's custody.

Some of the dogs were found with no food or water, and the floors of the house they operated out of were covered with animal urine and feces, police allege.

Bail was originally set at $5,000 for each.

Both women are due in court Aug. 4, according to Prince William County General District Court records.

Staff writer Elisa Glushefski can be reached at 703-878-8062.