Man arrested after two dogs and pets found dead in Staunton home in 2022

STAUNTON – It’s been more than two years since a pair of dogs and two other pets were found dead after being left in a downtown Staunton home for months.

Authorities have finally made an arrest in the case.

On Tuesday, the United States Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 34-year-old Christopher J. Shingles on two felony counts of animal torture and two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.

According to Staunton police, Shingles was arrested in Fort Meade, Florida, where he lived. He was extradited to Virginia.

In April 2022, police and animal control agencies from both Staunton and Augusta County responded to 510 N. New Street, where two pit bulls, a male and a female, were found dead in a home, along with a ferret and a lizard. Police estimated the pets were left alone in the home for five months.

According to a search warrant affidavit, a family renting the home reportedly left the area in November 2021, prior to Thanksgiving, to visit relatives. A property manager told police that a family friend cared for the animals and took care of the house.

The property manager said he checked on the animals two months after the family left and could hear some of the pets in the home. However, in April 2022, the property owner contacted the manager and asked him to check on the house after the electricity, water and gas were turned off, the affidavit said.

When the manager returned to the North New Street home, he found the deceased pets.

The dead dogs were located in the basement of the home and the ferret was found on a bed in an upstairs apartment, the affidavit said. The lizard was in an aquarium. The home was secured with police tape and authorities removed the animals.

“There appeared to be trash, urine and feces throughout the home,” the affidavit said.

Shingles is being held at the Middle River Regional Jail in Verona.

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Brad Zinn is the police, court and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Do you have a news tip? Or something that needs to be investigated? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at [email protected]. You can also follow him on X (formerly Twitter).