posted 03-27-2003 12:15 PM            

Posted By: Lisa Jenkins/Full Moon Kennel
Date: 3/26/2003 at 12:387 p.m.

They bought a puppy - Sandy - and had the woman who runs the store, Rene
Lynn Schreiber, crop the dog's ears.

The procedure is considered cosmetic surgery that requires anesthesia,
proper surgical instruments, pain medication, and sanitary conditions, local
veterinarians said.

When the couple returned for their dog Feb. 8, they were stunned at her
condition.

"She was in a cage and the floor was covered with blood," Jessica Holmes
said.

"There was blood on her head. She kept shaking and crying."

Last week, Hampton police obtained arrest warrants against Schreiber,
charging her with two counts of animal cruelty. The charges involve
allegations the 37-year-old dog owner was practicing veterinary medicine
without a license.

Schreiber left town before detectives had an opportunity to search her
business and home for surgical instruments and medication that might have
been used to crop the ears of two pit bull puppies, police said.

Posted byities tracked Schreiber to Pinellas County, Fla., where she was
arrested Sunday, said Hampton Police Cpl. Jimmie Wideman. Her arrest
followed two complaints to local animal control about mistreated pit bulls
in the back of a truck, according to a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
spokeswoman.

Both Virginia charges are misdemeanors, punishable by as much as 12 months
in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Had either dog died, the cruelty charge would be a felony, said Hampton
Commonwealth's Attorney Linda Curtis.

It was unknown Monday whether Schreiber planned to return voluntarily or
would fight extradition to Virginia.

"We have the right to extradite for misdemeanors, but we rarely do because
of the expense involved," Curtis said.

"But I consider this case fairly serious."

Veterinarians in the area say they've been aware of medical complications
with dogs treated by Schreiber for several years.

About 21/2 years ago, Dr. John Freed, president of the Greater Peninsula
Veterinary Medical Association, reported Schreiber to the Virginia Board of
Veterinary Medicine in Richmond. But there was little the board could do
because Schreiber was not a veterinarian.

Dr. Gary Farwell, another local veterinarian, says he sent letters Feb. 9 to
the Hampton mayor, city manager, commonwealth's attorney and several animal
rights groups asking for an inquiry.

Detectives started investigating Schreiber on March 15.

They interviewed veterinarians who treated Daniel and Jessica Holmes' pit
bull puppy, Sandy, and another pit bull pup for infection following
ear-cropping surgery at Schreiber's store at 512 E. Mercury Blvd.

When the Holmes family bought Sandy, they said they trusted Schreiber.

"We were naïve, but she said she had been doing this for 15 years and
sounded like she knew what she was doing," Daniel Holmes said.

After picking up Sandy, Jessica Holmes drove the sickly pup to the Armistead
Avenue Veterinary Hospital in Hampton. Farwell said the dog was in shock
from a loss of blood.

"It wasn't too far away from death, within a few hours," Farwell said.

Farwell cleaned the infected tissue and administered antibiotics.

Sophia Holmes of Newport News - no relation to Jessica and Daniel - also
owns a pit bull that was treated by Schreiber.

Her dog is the other one Schreiber is accused of mistreating.

"When I picked up the puppy the next day, there were splotches of dried
blood on the head and legs and he kept shaking his head and yelping," she
said. "He looked pitiful, a mess."

After a week, Sophia Holmes took the dog to Warwick Animal Hospital in
Newport News.

Dr. Paul Gustafson examined the pup.

Both pit bulls are continuing to recover.

Some veterinarians say the recent complaints about Schreiber aren't new.

"About three years ago we received a complaint against this woman that she
was doing surgery, giving immunization shots, treating skin diseases and
giving medical advice," Freed said.

"The animal came in with excruciating pain. The ears had been crudely cut
and sutured with fishing line," Freed said.

City officials as well as the Peninsula Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to animals knew of allegations involving Schreiber. In 1997,
Schreiber was convicted in Hampton of charges related to her own animals,
including no rabies vaccination and dogs running loose.

A spokeswoman for the SPCA said the organization had no comment on the
investigation.

Commissioner of Revenue Ross Mugler confirmed that his office received a
complaint in August 2001 from a veterinarian who claimed Schreiber was
performing veterinary services. Schreiber indicated in her business license
that she operated a retail store offering pet supplies and dog food.

City records showed Schreiber obtained a business license on June 15, 2001.
It was not renewed this year.