Owner of Michael Vick's former dogfighting compound facing animal cruelty charges

State and Federal officials load coolers of evidence into a truck as they search the grounds behind a home owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick in Smithfield, Va., Friday, July 6, 2007. The officials were looking for evidence in a dog fighting investigation. / AP Photo/Steve Helber

(AP) RICHMOND, Va. - The founder of a dog sanctuary at NFL star Michael Vick's former dogfighting compound said Monday that she was shocked to learn that she faces charges of animal cruelty and inadequate care of animals.

Tamira Thayne said in a telephone interview from her Dogs Deserve Better operation in Surry County that she read a newspaper report about the charges, but had neither spoken to authorities nor been served warrants.

"I know nothing about it," Thayne said. "I just got home from my honeymoon in St. Lucia. Apparently I was abusing dogs while I was gone."

Surry County Chief Animal Control Officer Tracy Terry said her office received complaints that led to an investigation, and the results prompted her to file the charges Friday. She declined to say specifically what led to the charges, but said Thayne should not be surprised.

"There's certain things I just can't disclose right now," the officer said.

A hearing is set for Sept. 25 in Surry County General District Court on the inadequate care charge. No hearing date is set on the cruelty count. Both charges are misdemeanors.

Thayne insisted she and her employees have done nothing wrong.

"We take special pains to make sure our dogs are safe and happy," she said. "They have a great life here. Vick tortured dogs to death and never once got charged with animal cruelty. Somebody needs to tell me what the hell is going on here."

Vick, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, served 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in federal court to participating in an interstate dogfighting conspiracy. The enterprise operated out of his five-bedroom home and 15-acre property in rural Surry County, which he sold to a developer after he was charged. Thayne's organization bought the former Bad Newz Kennels property last year for about $600,000 and turned it into a sanctuary for dogs that have been chained and penned.

Terry said Dogs Deserve Better has been operating without state approval.

"The state veterinarian told her in January they were not going to approve her until she rectified some things," Terry said.

Thayne said she thought she was in good graces with the government.

"They told us to do certain things and we did them, and I haven't heard from them," she said. "To my knowledge, we've done everything they asked us to do."

Thayne said her facility currently is caring for nine dogs, including her personal pet. She said they all live in the house, not out back where Vick and his associates kept dogs penned and chained and put them through brutal test fights. According to court papers in the cases of Vick and his codefendants, Vick bankrolled the operation and joined others in killing some dogs that did not perform well in the tests.

Since his release from prison in 2009, Vick has worked with the Humane Society of the United States to stop organized animal fighting.

[rwsmith29456]

Pretty cruddy the way this is being handled...... and reported.

[MagnaCartaUK]

I don't know who this Mr. Vick is, nor obviously the lady tasked with caring for these poor dogs, but in my experience of animal welfare bodies in Britain, they don't bring charges without due cause to. Certainly there's the potential for mis-understanding, but as with any type of abuse or neglect, those responsible nearly always claim 'surprise' and 'astonishment' at such rulings. If she has no case to answer, then she should feel relieved and thankful that this Animal Control Officer was so thorough and conscientious - before continuing her own good work. If there IS a case to answer then I hope additional charges of obstructive intent are dumped on her too. ... As for the dog-fighting fraternity - well they should be machine-gunned en-masse - preferably with the abused dogs in attendance. The vile scum.

[hypnotoad72]

Holy sense of entitlement...

[arkajun-2009]

Could be that she went off on her honeymoon and left the nine dogs in the house. She said she didn't keep any of them in the kennels out back. So where did she keep nine dogs? Nine dogs left alone outside/inside barking and yelping could PO the neighbors.
Thayne is right about one thing....Vick was never convicted nor charged with animal cruelty.

[josephp5]

Despite the implications of this story, the owner Tamira Thayne is not hiding from the law. She is just returning from her honeymoon! Thayne has not been served with an arrest warrant as of today (Tuesday) even though the charges were filed Friday.

These are additional things that makes me suspicious of animal control officer Tracy Terry's intent.

It seems very possible to me that the neighbors hate the attention brought by Michael Vick to their neighborhood, and are annoyed that Thayne is continuing to attract attention by using the property to shelter dogs. She may be being railroaded so the dog shelter can be closed to satisfy the neighbors.

[josephp5]

It's of course only Monday---sorry about the error.

[josephp5]

Something makes me suspicious of the animal control officer's charges. In particular, why did she not say how the dogs were mistreated? Why is that information confidential? Is she protecting the privacy rights of the dogs?

The animal control officer knows that this is a high profile charge, coming as it is to an animal rights person that bought animal abuser's Michael Vick's house. It would have been more credible if the charges were explained in detail, not held close to the vest as if we are dealing with human victims.

[amsdragonfly]

I feel like there is too much information being left unsaid. Why can't the officer divulge what the charges were? I have heard other dog control officers state charges before about people in articles. I agree with you. I think there's something fishy here. Definitely.

[formerlyluvnut]

Well, there is something in the air or it's just that hillbilly way of life.