The owner of a Hillsville dog-breeding operation from which authorities seized hundreds of puppies now faces 40 misdemeanor charges and is accused of operating a "puppy mill" that produced pets in inhumane, assembly-line fashion.

Lanzie Carroll Horton Jr., known as Junior, turned himself in to the Carroll County Sheriff's Office yesterday and was released after posting a $5,000 bond.

Horton, owner of Horton's Pups, faces 14 counts of animal cruelty, 25 counts of neglect, and one count of failing to obtain a license to keep so many animals.

Horton could not be reached for comment. Previously, though, he told the Richmond Times-Dispatch he has run his breeding operation for 20 years and always has taken good care of his dogs.

Horton's Pups made national news in November when a Humane Society report included it on a list of so-called puppy mills -- high-volume dog-breeding operations generally considered unmindful of animals' welfare.

Authorities, assisted by dog lovers and volunteer organizations along the East Coast, seized about 700 of Horton's more than 1,000 dogs in what the Humane Society called the largest dog-rescue operation in the nation.

Carroll Commonwealth's Attorney Gregory Goad said he decided to charge Horton with the 40 misdemeanors after viewing reports from veterinarians who examined the animals.

The 14 animal-cruelty charges allege that Horton deprived the dogs of "necessary food, drink, shelter or emergency veterinary treatment." The 25 neglect charges allege that he failed to adequately "house, feed, water, exercise or care" for the dogs, which included about 300 puppies.

Horton had a license to keep 500 dogs, according to Carroll authorities. He is scheduled to appear Tuesday in Carroll General District Court.
Contact Rex Bowman at (540) 344-3612 or rbowman@timesdispatch.com.