On October 17, 2019, Heath Chaney Dorrell, 24, of Centreville, Maryland, pleaded guilty to twelve counts of Animal Cruelty in the Queen Anne’s County Circuit Court. After a lengthy criminal investigation, lead by Officer Derrick Leonard from Queen Anne’s County Animal Control,  it was determined that Mr. Dorrell abandoned two black Labrador puppies and an adult black Labrador Retriever for approximately a month in kennels on the property of Pintail Point Farm.  At the time they were rescued, all three dogs showed signs of severe malnutrition, lack of proper care and were described by a witness as “walking corpses.”

During sentencing, the Assistant State’s Attorney handling the case, Chelsea Endzel, remarked to the Court that this is the worst case of animal abandonment that she has handled as a prosecutor specializing in cases involving animal cruelty and that the most frustrating part of this case was the fact that there were several persons at Pintail Point who were ready and able to care for the dogs, had Mr. Dorrell simply asked.  Judge Sidney Campen sentenced Heath Dorrell to six months of active incarceration with eighteen months suspended, and an additional five years of supervised probation. While on probation, Mr. Dorrell is barred from owning or caring for animals and will be required to repay nearly $12,000 in restitution to Anne Arundel Emergency Veterinary Clinic for their care of “Lane” and “Rip” and to the owner of the third dog, who entrusted Mr. Dorrell with the care and training of his beloved dog.

Picture Below: “Rip” and “Lane,” on the day of rescue, estimated to be about eight months old and purebread Labrador Retrievers. On the date they were found, “Rip” weigh just under 13 pounds and “Lane” weighed under 12 pounds, far under the considered normal weight for a healthy Retriever of this age.