Target: Brian Holohan, Commonwealth’s Attorney of Roanoke County, Virginia
Goal: Seek the maximum lawful penalties, restitution, and a lifelong animal-ownership ban in a case where a dog was reportedly found with a maggot-infested head wound and later euthanized.
Animal advocates and concerned residents are reeling after a dog was reportedly discovered in shocking condition and later put down. As reported, the animal was found with a severe head wound crawling with maggots, a state that reflected prolonged neglect and intense suffering. A defendant has been charged in connection with this case, and community outrage led to protests as details circulated.
Further accounts indicate the dog’s condition had deteriorated so profoundly that emergency euthanasia became necessary. Images and descriptions shared locally depict a scene of apparent, preventable misery. Even in tough circumstances, allowing a companion animal to reach a state where living tissue is invaded by larvae signals, at minimum, profound failure of care. If the allegations are proven, this case exemplifies cruelty that cannot be brushed aside or pleaded down without meaningful consequence.
Accountability matters because deterrence saves lives. When cruelty draws only minor consequences, similar suffering repeats. Prosecutors should insist on strong outcomes whenever evidence supports them. This case demands a result that includes the toughest permissible sentence, mandated counseling, cost-of-care restitution, and a lengthy—preferably permanent—ban on owning or residing with animals. Such a response can help prevent the next animal from enduring similar pain.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Commonwealth’s Attorney Holohan,
Reports describe a dog discovered with an advanced head wound infested with maggots and later euthanized due to the severity of the injuries. These accounts point to apparent long-term neglect and extreme suffering. A defendant has been charged, and the public is looking to your office for a response that reflects the gravity of what was reportedly endured.
When animals are left in such a state, a firm prosecutorial stance is critical. We respectfully ask that your office pursue the maximum lawful penalties supported by the evidence, seek cost-of-care restitution for agencies that intervened, and request a long-term, preferably lifetime, prohibition on owning or residing with animals. Requiring counseling or evaluations as appropriate can further reduce the risk of future harm.
This case has galvanized community concern because the reported facts are so disturbing. Please make clear through your charging and sentencing advocacy that severe neglect and cruelty carry serious consequences. Doing so will honor this dog’s suffering and help protect vulnerable animals going forward.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: David Whelan
