Manassas-area dog rescue operators face charges
Sandra I. Cortes, left, and Brenda E. Dodson were charged with more than two dozen counts of animal cruelty.
The two women who owned and operated a animal rescue outside Manassas Park were charged with more than two dozen counts of animal cruelty following a nearly two-month investigation, Prince William police said Wednesday.
Sandra Irene Cortes, 44, of 4004 Rose Lane in Annandale, and Brenda Elizabeth Dodson, 30, of 7605 Old Centreville Road near Manassas Park, were each charged Tuesday with 28 counts of animal cruelty as part of an ongoing investigation into Assisi’s Animal Rescue Foundation, said Officer Erika Hernandez, police spokeswoman.
The Prince William’s Animal Control Bureau was investigating the rescue and on May 5 got search warrants for the building at 7605 Old Centreville Road after a teenage girl, who had just adopted a puppy from Assisi’s, and her mother filed a complaint on May 4, police said.
During the search investigators exhumed the bodies of animals, which were sent to the state lab for testing.
Among the living conditions described in an affidavit filed in Prince William County Circuit Court were empty food and water bowls and floors covered with animal urine and feces at the foundation.
According to the affidavit, 20 of the dogs at the shelter were found that day in 12 cages that were stacked in two rows.
A tarp was covering the cages, none of which had food or water, the affidavit states.
The day of the search, Cortes surrendered 100 dogs and cats to the county.
Some were infested with parasites and malnourished, Hernandez said.
Some animals were euthanized for medical reasons on the advice of a veterinarian, Hernandez said.
The others were brought back to health and most have been adopted, she added.
The women were arraigned Wednesday and the judge set a pre-trial condition that they not be in custody of any animals, police said.
Cortes and Dodson were each held in lieu of a $5,000 bond and each is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 15, Hernandez said. Dodson posted bail Wednesday afternoon.
Reader Reactions
Sounds like AN english lesson is needed. Good ol’ Manassas Park.
“tarnish Manassas Park’s reputation”? Really?
Thank God these women has been caught and, hopefully, will be punished to the fullest extent of the law. As a Humane Investigator for Fairfax County, I have been investigating Sandra Cortez for several years.
Child protective services have already been investigating Ms. Cortes. Fairfax Animal Control has been at her home and has been aware of the dirty and dangerous conditions at her residence for many months. They knew there were very young children there in the filth with many large dogs. I’m not sure why something wasn’t done about this situation sooner. I hope the children are now in a safe environment. I also hope her personal dogs (she had about 6 I think) are in a safe place and being cared for. She should never get them back and should never be allowed to have any animals in her care or custody. What a mess!!
Has anyone checked on Ms. Cortes’ DOGS? Have THEY been removed from the Rose Lane house and given a chance for a better life? Under court order, she is not allowed to have them…
Ms. Cortes’ children are better off without her—what an example she has set for them! Abusing animals, stealing adoption fees, and lying… is that what we want her children to see as rational behavior? I’m sure they would be better off with their father or her parents. There aren’t many worse role models than this!
DMurphy - Are you willing to join them? It’s “an” address, not “a” address… I’m just sayin’ 
Has anyone checked on Ms. Cortes’ children?
The person who writes your headlines needs an education. Just because a address is near Manassas Park doesn’t make it IN Manassas Park. This headline should have read “Prince William Dog Rescue Operators Charged” or “Yorkshire Dog Rescue Operators Charged” Was this an attempt to tarnish Manassas Park’s reputation? Either get it right or get a new job.
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