Animal cruelty complaint filed
Donnie Biggs
Sandra Cortes, president of Assisi’s Animal Rescue Foundation, right, speaks with Manassas Park residents Natalie Kerns, left, Alyshia Juliano and Ashley George who allegedly filed an animal cruelty complaint with the Prince William County Police Department against Cortes on Sunday.
Officers from the Prince William County Police Department's Animal Control Bureau were at a dog rescue for the better part of Monday after receiving a complaint of animal cruelty that provided police with new information into an ongoing investigation.
Sparking police action was a complaint 18-year-old Ashley George and her mother, Natalie Kerns, filed on what the two described as "filthy" conditions at an animal rescue operated out of a house at 7605 Old Centreville Road.
Although authorities could not confirm the names of the complainants, police spokeswoman 1st Sgt. Kim Chinn said residents who brought a puppy adopted from Assisi's Animal Rescue Foundation to the Western District police station Sunday and filed a complaint.
"We did have an ongoing investigation into this place and that really helped us get in there [Monday]," Chinn said.
Police were in the process of
obtaining search warrants as of mid-afternoon, Chinn said, adding that more information would be available today.
Sandra Cortes, who said she started the rescue 18 years ago ha
operated it from that house since March this year, denied all the accusations.
Standing across the street from the rescue, George and her friend, 18-year-old Adrian Jackson, described the events that led them to Assisi's Animal Rescue Foundation and to filing the complaint.
The two Manassas Park residents said they went to the rescue Sunday after seeing an advertisement by the rescue on the Web site Craigslist.
But what the two saw when they got there was disturbing, they said. Mason, the dog they ended up adopting, was covered in feces and some of the others looked emaciated, George and Jackson said.
After that, the two told George's mom about the situation and went back to the shelter almost immediately.
During that visit, dogs were biting each other and a man kicked a couple of dogs that had gotten into a fight, Kerns claims.
After leaving with Mason, they said they took the dog to the police station and filed a complaint.
The operator of the rescue organization walked across the street to confront Kerns and George minutes after they and arrived to speak with the Potomac News.
"No matter what they say, we do love the dogs," Cortes said. "It's not a puppy mill."
The rescue, she said, takes in dogs from people who surrender their pet to them and from so-called "kill" shelters that euthanize animals.
And, she said, they do not breed dogs or mistreat them.
According to Cortes, animal control and zoning authorities arrived around 10 a.m. and was later given a letter revoking her kennel license.
She said she has been given the option of
surrendering the 96 dogs and puppies or possibly face criminal charges, and wanted to consult those options with her attorney.
One of the red flags Kerns and her daughter noted was that the paperwork they were given provided conflicting information. One, they showed, claimed the dog was a Labrador while the dog's shot record, which they believe is a fake, lists him as a hound mix.
"I actually want them prosecuted," Kerns said, leaning on the hood of her car. "You shouldn't do this."
Staff writer Elisa Glushefski can be reached at 703-878-8062 or .
Reader Reactions
I doubt she signed the dogs over for the dogs’ sake. Im sure she had no choice but to sign over the dogs and I seriously doubt she ever had a kennel license especially because you can not run a shelter out of your house and there is no way you are aloud to have such a but load of animals.
The reporter should not get info from Ms. Cortes as she is a pathological liar who tells people the rescue is this or that, lies to all her volunteers on a regular basis, says she was a laywer, in real estate etc. The rescue in not registered with Virginia, any county or with the Dept of Agriculture. She has no business license, more dogs than any few people could handle and no money to care for them.
I do not know why charges have not come up yet but they just might. She is not so an animals abuser but I think is more guilty of neglect and I dont care what the reporter says, I have experienced it and Im sure no more than she ever could about Assisis and Ms. Cortes.
If this was such a clear cut case of animal creulty I would like to know why they were not charged?
Something smack of odd here. When they have an ongoing investigation the police act quickly and make charges. They do not hold out for a day in the future to charge them.
I think our news reporter should have asked that question to the police. I think our news reporter should make statements of fact. Mrs. Cortes did not sign the dogs over to avoid proscesution, in fact she signed the dogs over so they would not be held in the shelter without medical care as stated by Officer Shetley said. The dogs and cats would have been kept int he shelter until charges were brought, if they are ever brought, and then after all the case had been completed the dogs and cats would then be made available for adoption.
Facts are fact.
I was at the home Saturday. I can tell you I saw no animals that were falling over sick. They were fine.
I saw them bathing dogs and they seemed to be fine. They were not covered in dog poop.
I think more needs to be reviewed before passing judgement.
I was there and watched the whole mess come down. What I saw was a young girl and young man standing outside the house screeming foul words and throwing rocks, one that hit the police car.
I watched Animal Control Officers in the back field turn dogs loose only to start a fight. The officer whom I now know as Shetley hit the dogs with a shovel.
As the dogs came out they were not too sick to walk. They were not so skinny that you could see the ribs. But most importantly the crowed was only a few people all of whom were on the opposite side of the street. The dogs were no where near them. I was on the corner closer to the home and was able to view the dogs.
I think people should wait and find out the whole story.
By the way the young girl, Ashley George, stold the dog from the home. They were questioned by the police and it was clear there was a contract, but the money was never paid. I have to wonder what her motives are?
fellowrescuer,
I am a member of the ASPCA and I’ll speak from experience when I’ll tell you that this Cortes person is a typical animal collector. But the lady doesn’t look disturbed to me - just taking advantage of a creature that can’t defend itself.
Maybe you change your mind by visiting our website and seeing first-hand what animal collectors (and I think its much too nice a word) can do with their self-righteous thinking. But for most of these people there is help in form of psychiatric help.
But this lady tops it all in the name of the green buck! She’s a criminal with every fiber of her being.
She buried dogs in her backyard??? Can you even imagine what desease this creates not only for animals but humans alike???? Why do you think city ordinances have animal shelters and vets so that animals can be disposed of safely and humanly?
All animal shelters do this for free - but in her case if she would have brought in continuously animals they would have gotten suspicious and reported her earlier.
Thank you, ladies, who reported her! You are the heroes in this case and closed down another cruel person that should never have another pet in her entire life!!!!!!!!
I used to volunteer with Assisi’s and was blind to the real deal for along time. This issue in the news now has been a long time coming for Sandra. She does not treat the dogs right as far as conditions and vetting them. The only bonus if you see it that way is that the dogs are taken form high kill shelters where they would be euthanized if not taken out. These rural shelters put down most everyone that comes in and they are overloaded not only with just dog, but puppies, cats, and pregnant moms that are killed each day so it is difficult when you get those emails asking forhelp to not take trhe dogs in. When I was with Assisis, they never had that amount of dogs (100). Not even close. I spent alot of my time cleaning at her home, feeding and bathing dogs. I think she does care about and love dogs but I also believe she is mentally ill and that it is true she paysher bills with the rescue money and does not work. It is also true she has no way of having the money for vetting all those dogs. When I was there, she did give shots, wormer etx but I did witness a couple dogs get pregnant and I have witnessed puppies get sick and recieve no treament and die. I have gone over and founf one puppy dying in the yard, one on the couch and I found another dead in its crate once. And its not just parvo, the di of girdia and coccidia which shold never happen. She lied all the time and would tell us she took a dog to the vet and one time told me a sick puppy was at the vets but when I calle hey said the pup was not thee and she later said it died at the vets. A lot fo dog I have witnessed so many find good homes but her practices, ethics and the entire situation/operation is just wrong and very poorly run. I have seen a lot.
When she lived in Fairfax (Annandale) many people complained to no avail as they never really got anything accomplished.
I disagree with the person saying rescues should give dogs away for free as that number 1 would not make rescue possible and number 2 would be bad for the dog in my opinion as dogs are not free to care for and no fee gives the impression they are. Our rescue charges $250 and we are always in the negative catching up with vet bills, buying food, transporting, and doing adoption events, cleaning supplies, meds, the list goes on and on.
And for all of you who are so appauled and say animals dserve better blah blah blah, the dogs we get formt he shelters are usually sick, emaciated, and have one illness or another, even open wounds. I have seen many shelters that are filthy, have dogs and puppies living outside or many dogs to a run sitting in feces with skin issues due to it and mange, fleas, ticks you name it. Its disgusting and heartbreaking and why I am in rescue period. No one cares about these animals when they are stuck in the shelter lonely and cold waiting for there execution date. We in this country have come to accept and condone the mass murder of dogs and cats everyday due to the lack of homes so dont be too judgemental of others.
So i have read mostly all of your above comments, agree and disagree with some.
People who take the name for them selves as RESCUERS are suppose to take these loving animals into their home and treat them right. This lady did NOT!. She took these animals to make money. She sold them sick, pregnant, and with harsh diseases. AND I AM NOT SHEEPLE AS ONE ABOVE MAY THINK . I was there at the scene front row. I was there and can tell you FIRST HAND the conditions of all the animals which i witnessed come out of Sandra Cortez property were unbelievably sickly looking. All you saw was there spine,ribs,and skin. They had looked like they havent been fed in weeks. My belief is Sandra Cortez is a sickening ,cold hearted person.
Posted by ( Leisa ) at 10:02 pm
This is exactly what is wrong with animal rightist thinking….the woman has NOT been found guilty by any court of law, yet the papers publish a story-get one persons complaint (and do we know if the dog was in bad shape?)in the story and it becomes “gospel” to readers. This country is filled with sheeple…not thinking for themselves, but believing and making judgements on second hand info and no actual proof. I will withold any judgement until a court of law has spoken to the charges, others should as well.
Well, this is the dumbest comment I’ve heard in a long time. Lady, if Animal Control gave her a letter revoking her kennel license - that is serious business. Do you think that the Animal Control is giving these out for fun or risking a lawsuit themselves if they don’t have definite proof?????
She said she has been given the option of surrendering the 96 dogs and puppies or possibly face criminal charges, and wanted to consult those options with her attorney.
If Animal Control is making you give up the animals they’re trying to help so that this person doesn’t face criminal charges.
All in all, looking at this perspective that lady is guilty as hell!!!
This comment is for Leisa.
“This country is filled with sheeple…not thinking for themselves, but believing and making judgements on second hand info and no actual proof” I guess the findings from Sgt. Kim Chinn, Prince William police spokeswoman saying “The animals have varying degrees of illnesses,” Is us making judgement? Were you there when these animal’s were taken out of the backyard one by one? Well I can tell you I was and seeing all those poor dogs, puppies, Kittens come out and seeing so many skinny with their ribs sticking out made my stomach sick some of them had to be carried out because they were to sick to even walk. I also got to see the puppy who was adopted from there and seeing him so small and skinny and the stains on his fur from not being bathed also made me sick I understand puppies get dirty but these puppies had dirt matted in their hair from not being bathed for periods of time. No charges have been brought up against this lady because they are still awaiting reports from the Veterinarian who is examining ALL the animals and are awaiting the state to provide its testing report from the animals that were exhumed from the back yard graves. But just so you know some of us do use our own minds when making judgements on others. Also I do know puppies get skinny because of worming medicines but not to the point where their ribs stick out so far. Everyone has their own opinion which is fine but when you see it with your own eyes is when your opinion matters to you the most and to me Ms Sandra Cortes, Her husband and assistant Brenda all need to be locked up and banned from EVER owning, selling, or even breeding animals again and to add a huge fine. That’s my opinion and I stand by it.
THIS PERSON NEEDS TO BE PUT IN JAIL FOR THIS,& WHEN U TRY TO ADOPT THESE ANIMALS FROM THESE SO CALED RESCUE PLACES U HAVE TO PAY SUCH A HIGH PRICE, THEY SHOULD BE FREE FOR PEOPLE INSTEAD OF LIVING WITH THESE JERKS
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