VINTON, Va. – Update:
A man has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty in connection with a dog abuse case, according to the Vinton Police Department. This charge is a Class 1 Misdemeanor.
Franco Montouri is currently being held at the Roanoke County Jail without bond. This case remains an active investigation.
We will continue to update this article as we learn more.
Update:
A Vinton woman faces animal cruelty charges after authorities removed a severely injured dog from her Pine Street home, leading to the animal being euthanized and igniting community outrage.
Antonia Montouri, 60, was charged with animal cruelty in connection with the case involving a mixed-breed dog named Max, whose condition was so severe that veterinarians determined euthanasia was the most humane option.
The dog, found with severe maggot infestations, was rescued by the Virginia German Shepherd Rescue in Centreville, where he was immediately treated by vets before a decision was made to put him down.
Dr. Maureen Roberts, medical director at Emergency Veterinary & Specialty Services of Roanoke, did not see or treat Max, but has had experience with similar cases and shed some light on what dogs like Max experience with neglect like this. “Maggots are a problem. They basically eat through dead tissue, but they also eat through live tissue. So usually, we have to remove the maggots by hand,” said Dr. Roberts.
Roberts indicated such conditions suggest prolonged neglect. “Extensive damage from maggots is usually days and days. It involves flies laying the eggs and them developing into mature maggots which causes the tissue destruction,” she said.
The case has sparked significant community response, including the creation of a Facebook page named Justice for Max that has attracted thousands of followers. Supporters have targeted New York Pizza, a Vinton restaurant operated by the accused’s son, Giacomo Montouri.
Giacomo says the business has been wrongly targeted, stating he had no idea about the dog’s condition and that it had no connection to the business.
Giacomo released a statement Tuesday, reading: “We are deeply saddened by the turn of events. We take these allegations seriously and we are sorry that it happened. The dog in question was not owned by an owner or employee of NY Pizza. We have sought legal representation, are investigating this matter.”
Despite the statement, community members continue to call for boycotts and plan protests against the restaurant.
In Virginia, animal cruelty is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Original:
A 60-year-old woman has been charged with animal cruelty after an investigation was conducted by the Vinton Police Department on Thursday, the department announced.
According to officials, on Thursday, Oct. 9, officers with VPD responded to the 600 block of Pine Street in Vinton regarding a report of possible animal cruelty.
Upon arrival, officers located a dog that appeared to have sustained injuries and was in need of veterinary care. The dog’s owner, who has been identified as 60-year-old Antonia Montouri, voluntarily relinquished ownership of the animal to a local animal care organization.
The dog was immediately transported to a veterinary facility for treatment, but was ultimately euthanized. Following the investigation, Montour was charged with Animal Cruelty, a Class 1 misdemeanor.
The case is currently under active investigation.