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Charges put aside against animal rescuer charged with animal cruelty

Posted at 4:15 PM, Sep 09, 2013
and last updated 2013-09-09 16:16:50-04

GOOCHLAND COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) – A District Court judge has noelle prossed animal cruelty charges against Annette Thompson.

Goochland County Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Caudill said a veterinarian who performed necropsies on Thompon’s animals was unable to testify Monday due to another case.

Prosecutors said they decided not to pursue charges at this time because they did not want to continue the case again. The case had already been continued several times.

The grand jury will decide in October whether to send charges against Thompson to Circuit Court.

Thompson was charged with animal cruelty several days after a March fire at her Goochland home. Deputies said they discovered several dogs at the home in poor physical condition. Five of the dogs had to be euthanized.

Thompson, a former Richmond Police Officer, ran a pet rescue organization called The Pet Rescue Foundation. A number of animals remain on her property.