Posted:
This really want to make me scream!   This man is sick and how the heck did the authorities drop the ball on this one?????  Wolf rescue founder charged
By MARIA HEGSTAD
mhegstad@potomacnews.com
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
The founder of Black Wolf Rescue shelter in Triangle was charged with 28 counts of animal cruelty Tuesday.
Robert Clifton Artois, 56, was arrested Tuesday morning, Prince William Police Master Detective Samson Newsome said. Additional charges may be pending. Authorities are awaiting the results of a necropsy, or animal autopsy, performed on a dog found dead at Artois' home, said Newsome, head of the Prince William County Animal Shelter. Animal control officers entered Artois' 19325 Fuller Heights Road home and shelter after receiving a complaint of abandoned dogs April 18, according to documents filed with Prince William General District Court. The complainant told authorities that Artois was incarcerated in the Alexandria City Jail and had asked her to care for the animals until he was released. Artois was held at the Alexandria City Jail for six days for contempt of court in a civil case, according to Alexandria City Jail records. He was released April 19. The complainant told animal control authorities that there was a strong smell of animal urine and feces coming from the house and a large rodent problem was apparent inside, according to court documents. Inside the house, surrounded by three acres on a hill, animal control officers discovered 25 dogs and wolves. Most of the dogs were locked inside crates and standing in their own waste, according to court documents. Four more dogs were found with no food or water in crates in a shed. One of the four was dead. "They were not in the best condition. It warranted immediate attention and removal," Newsome said. "The way they [the animal control officers] went in and the compassion I saw from them in handling these animals was amazing. The conditions were extremely harsh and unfavorable." The animals were taken to the county shelter, where a veterinarian was standing by to treat them, Newsome said. The dogs had a variety of medical problems, including skin ailments from their backs rubbing against crates that were too small, according to Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Sandra R. Sylvester. According to court documents, 13 of the 28 dogs were wolves or wolf hybrids. The remaining dogs included German shepherds, cocker spaniels, a black Lab and a Jack Russell terrier. One of the dogs died at the shelter, and another gave birth to a litter of puppies Friday. The county shelter didn't have room for so many animals, but Newsome was able to make arrangements for some of the shelter's adoptable animals to go to shelters in Manassas City and Fauquier, Fairfax and Loudoun counties to make room for the new arrivals. "The conditions weren't fit for man or animal," said Sylvester, who accompanied the officers April 18 when they seized the dogs and took them to the shelter. "It broke my heart. I'm an animal lover." This isn't Artois' first contact with animal control officers. Artois was charged with one count of cruelty to animals in November 2004. The summons filed with Prince William General District Court noted unsanitary conditions, not providing adequate food, water or living space, but gave no other details. Artois is scheduled for a June court date in that case. The Black Wolf Rescue was licensed by both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the county. The rescue was still licensed with the USDA last week. An official at the USDA's Animal Care Eastern Region office in Raleigh, N.C., wouldn't release the status of Artois' license or any additional information over the phone. Prince William County had issued Artois a kennel license for up to 12 dogs, Newsome said. He declined to comment on the status of Artois' county license. Full article
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