Patrick County Woman Charged After PETA, Authorities Find 50 Dogs Caged, Neglected
For Immediate Release:
November 3, 2025
Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382
Patrick County resident Betty Haynes has been charged with two counts of failure to provide adequate care to animals after PETA, Patrick County Sheriff’s Office, and several other animal protection groups removed nearly 50 dogs and puppies from her property in June. The dogs were caged outside without adequate shelter, shade, food, or water, and some were suffering from untreated health conditions. The seizure followed a tip from a local woman who contacted PETA’s emergency after-hours line. Haynes—an animal hoarder promoting herself as “Save A Mutt Rescue,” (which is not a registered charity)—has a court date on February 10. Photos from the day of the rescue are here.
PETA Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations Daphna Nachminovitch joined law-enforcement authorities and the other animal welfare groups in removing the dogs, many of whom were extremely fearful due to being deprived of human interaction; some of them are still with foster caregivers due to the trauma of long-term isolation.
One of Haynes’ charges relates to a dog, named Sunny Girl by rescuers, who—according to veterinary records—was found “scared, lethargic… emaciated” and suffering from severe hair loss and “ulcerated wounds” as well as a secondary skin infection, ear infection, and “severe inflammation everywhere.” Rescuers found Sunny Girl confined to a filthy, feces-filled pen with a bucket of black, contaminated water. The other charge relates to an unweaned puppy, named Wellington by his rescuers, who was found listless and near death, dehydrated and with a bloated abdomen; he refused to eat or drink on-scene, and his mother was malnourished and likely unable to nurse him.
In addition to staff from the Patrick County Animal Shelter, animal protection groups from all over Virginia, including Dogs Deserve Better Blue Ridge, The Squishy Face Crew Virginia, Old Dominion Humane Society, and Sanctuary Rescue assisted in the rescue and removal of Haynes’ dogs. The dogs were distributed among the groups.
“For years, Haynes’ property has been a hoarder hell for terrified, unsocialized dogs and puppies who were deprived of potable water, adequate shelter, veterinary care, and even a kind touch” says Nachminovitch. “PETA urges everyone to report cruelty to animals whenever they see it and to always thoroughly vet anyone who calls themselves a ‘rescue’ before donating or turning animals over to them.”
PETA notes that in 2011, Haynes was charged with 68 counts of cruelty to animals when dozens of dogs were found on her property in similar conditions. At the time, despite testimony from an expert veterinarian and animal control officials, the judge only took the case under advisement, and Haynes faced no real consequences.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
