Animal carcasses probe expands

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Authorities said yesterday they think that dogs and cats from Montgomery and Arlington counties are among the hundreds of carcasses found in illegal dumps in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle.

Investigators initially thought that most of the 600 dead cats and dogs and other animals found in a wooded area near Capon Bridge and in the George Washington National Forest in Hardy County had ties to the Fairfax County animal shelter.

Authorities did not say yesterday what led investigators to think that some of the animals came from shelters in Montgomery and Arlington.

For years, the animal shelters had contracted Chantilly-based Family Pet Cremations to legally dispose of dead animals. Since the recent discoveries, the three counties suspended or canceled their contracts with the business.

"We were just horrified," said Kay Speerstra, executive director of the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.

Telephone calls to Family Pet Cremations were not answered yesterday.

A caretaker of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter has been placed on administrative leave, said Officer Shelley Broderick, a county police spokeswoman. The caretaker was employed part-time with Family Pet Cremations, at 14522 Lee Road.

On Wednesday, Fairfax County discontinued its contract with Family Pet Cremations, which has been responsible for disposing of bodies from the county's animal control shelters, said Officer Bud Walker, a county police spokesman.

"We in the police department are very worried and disturbed at this discovery," he said.

Miss Speerstra said the contract with Family Pet Cremations was expensive and varied, especially during hunting seasons. "We're certainly going to find somebody else to do disposals," she said.

Lt. Eric Burnett, a spokesman for the Montgomery County police, said the county had a five-year contract with Family Pet Cremations.

West Virginia authorities began an investigation earlier this week when the remains of more than 250 animals were found near Capon Bridge in Hampshire County near the Virginia border, said Lt. Harry "Chip" Shaver III, a law-enforcement spokesman for the state's Division of Natural Resources.

"It was not a pleasant scene," he said.

Some of the animals had identification tapes or tags, which led state and Hampshire County Sheriff's investigators to Fairfax County.

It was then learned that 100 dead animals were found in the George Washington National Forest in Hardy County in December.

Investigators with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service are searching for evidence mainly in Northern Virginia.

The two dumping sites were about 30 miles apart, said Capt. Woody Lipps, a law-enforcement officer for the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. That suggested the dumpers came from the same place.

"There wasn't a whole lot to go on," Capt. Lipps said. "We did find that some of the animals came from Fairfax County. At this point, we don't have any evidence that any of the animals came from anywhere but Fairfax County."