By Ashley McLeod, staff writer
Mar 4, 2016, 15:33
COLONIAL HEIGHTS — A Colonial Heights man arrested for dumping threes dogs over the animal shelter fence last year will serve 60 hours of community service at the shelter following his appearance in court on Tuesday.
Christopher Ryan Lucy, 26, was arrested in December after being identified as the suspect in the incident, which occurred on November 25, 2015.
Lucy took three dogs to the Colonial Heights Animal Shelter and dumped them over the six-foot fence. His truck was identified in security footage from the shelter.
Lucy was initially charged with three felony counts of animal cruelty, three counts of failing to provide food, water, and shelter to an animal, and one count of trespassing.
The animal cruelty charges were reduced to misdemeanors.
Lucy was given 90 days in jail for each animal cruelty charge, with 90 days suspended for each. But as punishment, Lucy will serve 20 hours of community service for each offense, with a total of 60 hours. The sentence comes from an agreement between the commonwealth, defense, and animal shelter. Collins said they met with the shelter to talk about an appropriate punishment for the crime. Officer Stacey Arehart, a senior officer with animal control, suggested Lucy be given community service at the animal shelter. Lucy will serve his community service at the shelter under Officer Arehart. Collins said this was a way for Lucy to give back to the community.
According to Deputy Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Gray Collins, the three dogs were later found out to be Lucy’s parents’ dogs. The dogs were to be terminated, so in an attempt to stop this, Lucy took the dogs to the shelter, which is known as a no-kill shelter.
Collins also said that Lucy owned one dog, which was well taken care of, a claim which was supported by a letter from the veterinarian saying the dog was in good health. This fact also was considered in coming up with Lucy’s punishment.
Lucy will also be required to pay the veterinarian bill for the three dogs he left at the shelter, which Collins said was about $1,500.
