3 questioned in Eastern Shore dognapping

HOPETON, Va. -- Three people were questioned in Accomack County after someone reported seeing them drive up to a home in a rental truck to take a dog from the yard.

Sonny Hall said he confronted the trio at an intersection in Hopeton after he saw them take the dog, which was tied up outside the home

Hall wrote in a Facebook post that he asked them if they had permission to take the dog "and they almost ran over me as they tried to get away."

Hall reported the incident to the Accomack County Sheriff's Office, noting the truck was headed south.

"They were stealing a dog off a property on Matthews Road," said Accomack County Sheriff Todd Godwin. He said the dog was a tan pitbull mix that was chained outside in the yard.

Officers stopped the truck at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, about an hour's drive south, according to Godwin.

Officers questioned two women and a man after the truck was stopped. No dogs were found in the truck and no one was taken into custody.

"Based on the information we have, we believe the dog was transferred to another vehicle in Exmore and transported across the bay," Godwin said.

Godwin said the people questioned are not affiliated with People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

It is thought they are members of an animal rescue group from Hampton Roads that also had members present when Accomack County Animal Control officers seized a dozen dogs from a property near Onancock last week, Godwin said.

"We think it's the same group — matter of fact, we think it's the same women," Godwin said.

The Norfolk-based animal rights organization PETA has been criticized by many county residents after Wilber Zarate of Hopeton came home to find his dog missing last fall.

Footage from a security camera at Zarate's home showed a PETA van in the yard, then a woman entering a porch and leaving with his pet Chihuahua. PETA later told him the dog had been euthanized.

The Accomack County Sheriff's Office arrested two women and charged them with larceny in the case. But Accomack County Commonwealth's Attorney Gary Agar declined to prosecute the case, saying there wasn't sufficient evidence of criminal intent.

Accomack County's Animal Control department is the only entity authorized to respond to complaints about animal mistreatment in the county, Godwin said.

"They have no legal right to take a dog. ...You cannot go on people's property and steal people's dogs. We will not tolerate it," Godwin said.