A Virginia woman convicted of 60 counts of animal abuse will soon be released on harsh court orders, including lifetime probation and a $1.5 million restitution order. Irina Sergeyevna Barrett, 46, was condemned in Fauquier County Circuit Court after a years-long court struggle over the maltreatment of dozens of pets in her care.
In 2020, Barrett, the owner of Canis Maximus in Virginia and Paradise Garden Hotel kennels in West Virginia, was arrested when authorities discovered 75 dogs at her Broad Run residence. The prosecution argued that Barrett had knowingly neglected her dogs by failing to provide them with essential food, water, shelter, and emergency veterinary care. The Fauquier Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) reported that 34 of the seized dogs were underweight, 27 were severely dehydrated, and many were afflicted by intestinal parasites. Tragically, due to their deteriorated conditions, 46 dogs had to be euthanized.
Judge James Plowman has sentenced Barrett to time served and has ordered her release on March 9. In addition, she will be placed on five years of supervised probation and 55 years of unsupervised probation. As part of her sentencing, Barrett is permanently banned from owning, caring for, working with, or living around animals. Within 90 days, she must start making monthly restitution payments of at least $1,000 to reimburse the SPCA for the ongoing care of the 83 dogs that are still legally owned by Barrett.
The SPCA Executive Director, Devon Settle, revealed during his testimony that the organization has spent almost $2 million on taking care of the confiscated dogs. These expenses cover a wide range of items, such as daily boarding fees, medical treatments, vaccinations, and repairs to the infrastructure that was damaged due to the long-term housing of the animals. Settle emphasized the importance of legally surrendering the remaining dogs to enable them to find loving and permanent homes through adoption.
Judge Plowman pointed out that Barrett failed to acknowledge the harm caused, stating that she was unable to see the abhorrent condition the animals were in. Despite Barrett disputing certain aspects of the case, the judge emphasized the lasting damage caused by her actions.
The severity of animal cruelty and the long-term legal consequences for offenders are highlighted by this case. Authorities are hopeful that Barrett’s sentencing will act as a deterrent to future instances of large-scale animal neglect.