ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - When animal control officers respond to cruelty calls, they find crime scenes with victims who cannot speak for themselves.

Virginia law requires animals in danger to be seized immediately, with hearings scheduled within 10 days. The expedited timeline reflects the urgency of cases involving living evidence that requires care.

“The code has it set up where it has to be expedited. Because these animals can’t be in limbo for extended periods of time. It’s not healthy for them, it’s not financially responsible, there’s a whole slew of issues,” said Gillian Deegan, deputy commonwealth’s attorney in Botetourt County.

Deegan has spent decades strengthening Virginia’s approach to animal cruelty cases, training officers and prosecutors to handle crimes with voiceless victi

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