Bite brings kennel under scrutiny SOUTHWEST VA. INVESTIGATION PROMPTS NEW STATE LAW
Dog bite puts Northern Neck kennel under scrutiny; raises concerns by animal-welfare activists about condition of some of the dogs
Date published: 12/26/2008
BY FRANK DELANO
A Northern Neck kennel has a poodle problem. Lots of them.
In fact, Dalin Kennels of Richmond County apparently has too many dogs to comply with a new state law that goes into effect Jan. 1. The law will limit to 50 the number of dogs that can be kept in a kennel.
Kennel owner Lynn DeRosa declined to say how many dogs are at the kennel. She obtained licenses Nov. 18 for 160, according to county records.
"Too many to count," said Animal Control Officer Kim Lindberg, who inspected the kennel.
According to DeRosa's Web site (dalinkennels.com), she has been breeding, showing and selling championship toy and miniature poodles since 1965.
But a recent dog bite at the kennel has brought it under legal scrutiny and raised concerns by animal-welfare activists about the condition of some of DeRosa's dogs. Descriptions of the kennel and the dogs vary widely and could not be verified.
DeRosa declined to answer questions submitted to her by e-mail. She did not respond to a request for a tour of the kennel by The Free Lance-Star.
"I am going to withhold my answers on suggestion from my attorney. At a time better suited, I will give a complete statement," DeRosa said in an e-mail reply.
Cheryl Slavnik of Gloucester said she came to the kennel Nov. 13 to buy a dog. She said the prices of the dogs ranged from $650 to $1,500. She said she was playing with four poodles in a pen when one of them bit her arm.
The bite did not require medical treatment, she said. She said the bite troubled her less than the condition of the dogs and the kennel.
"I was disgusted. I thought I was going to be sick in my stomach, the stench of the kennel was so overwhelming," Slavnik said.
Date published: 12/26/2008
Most recent reader comments:
Poodle has a biting reputation.
(posted by
MrZorro
, Dec. 27, 2008 12:26 am)  
It is well known that poodles are not as friendly as they look. from these detaiuls, it sounds like the kennel is clean enough, and cleared of abuse charges.
poodle surplus
(posted by
, Dec. 26, 2008 1:53 pm)  
imagine the surplus of poodles i thought there was more of a demand for them
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