HILLSVILLE -- The owner of a Carroll County dog-breeding operation from which authorities seized hundreds of puppies in November was convicted Friday of animal cruelty and neglect.

Junior Horton, owner of Horton's Pups in Hillsville, will not serve any time in jail but will have to reimburse veterinarians called in to care for the dogs after he surrendered them, a judge ruled.

Authorities had accused Horton of running a puppy mill, producing puppies in an assembly-line fashion with little regard to their health or well-being.

In November, acting on a tip from the Virginia Partnership for Animal Welfare and Support, authorities went to Horton's business and found more than 1,000 dogs.

Horton had licenses to keep 500 dogs. Some dogs found at the kennel lacked proper food and water and veterinary treatment, according to veterinarians who examined them.

Horton was charged with 14 counts of animal cruelty, 25 counts of animal neglect and one count of failing to obtain the proper license. He was convicted of all charges.

Horton allowed authorities to turn more than 700 of the dogs over to animal-care groups, which arranged for their adoption.
Contact Rex Bowman at (540) 344-3612 or rbowman@timesdispatch.com.