Ah, Sangria At Last In Virginia

   Sangria Allowed

I am sure as a result of our prior posts on the prohibition of Sangria in the Commonwealth, the General Assembly decided to make Sangria legal in restaurants–no doubt about it.  See Prior Post

Senate Passes Bill to Throw Out Sangria Ban  See Post Story

“The Virginia Senate passed a bill yesterday to allow restaurants to sell sangria that includes brandy, triple sec or a similar spirit, a mixture that is banned by state law.

Sangria, which is served at many Spanish restaurants, is generally made with wine and fruit but often includes a small amount of spirits. The Senate bill would change a law that prohibits the mixing of wine and spirits. A similar bill is advancing through the House of Delegates.”

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

Informationins Ights Inc.

Another Horse Cruelty Event In Virginia

  A Loudoun County judge ruled yesterday that 48 horses had been cruelly treated by individuals at a Middleburg farm, and he signed court orders turning over custody of the horses to the county.  This is another example of the expanding area of animal law, and the need for qualified animal law private investigators.  Most animal cruelty cases are criminal prosecutions, but there are many civil implications that law enforcement or animal control officers will not investigate.  Virginia law provides that owners must give adequate food, water, shelter space, exercise, care, treatment and veterinary.  These issues are highly factual in nature and the facts in every case will be different.  Investigators have to conduct a logical and thorough investigation to uncover the necessary facts to prove all the elements of a crime or civil proceeding.  The Commonwealth Attorney’s office should pursue animal abuse cases, and make sure that proper penalties are considered if a person is convicted.  Too often, charges are compromised, and defendants are not appropriately punished.   See Prior Horse Posts

The Washington Post reported: 

“A Loudoun County judge ruled yesterday that 48 horses seized by county officials last week were “cruelly treated,” and he awarded custody of the thoroughbreds to the county.  General District Court Judge J. Frank Buttery Jr. signed an order giving custody of the horses to Loudoun County Animal Care and Control and ordered their owners to reimburse the county for food and medical costs incurred since the seizure, almost $8,000 so far. Dennis Danley, Donald Cutshaw and Pablo Cosme were named as owners. “Clearly the commonwealth has proved in this case that the animals . . . were cruelly treated,” Buttery said, after reviewing photos of the horses and conditions on the area farm where they were seized.  ”Certainly not enough food or even water was provided for them.”

Under Buttery’s order, Danley is prohibited from owning agricultural animals in because of a prior conviction. Cosme and Cutshaw cannot own agricultural animals in the state for two years. Commonwealth’s Attorney Jason Faw said criminal charges are pending.  See Washington Post Story Here

In addition, a prior Post story reported that last year “Dennis B. Danley, 55, a horse trainer from Charles Town, WV, was charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty in after authorities, according to news accounts, found 10 mares with exposed rib cages and spines among 60 horses at a farm south of Charles Town.  Danley pleaded no contest to one count of animal cruelty in August.  He was fined, received a 90-day suspended jail sentence and a year of probation, and agreed to give up ownership of horses for five years, said his attorney in the case, Harley O. Wagner.  Under the deal, Danley was allowed to continue training horses, Wagner said.”  See Story Here

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

Information Insights Inc.