HAMPTON, Va. (WVEC) -- A man who had 21 dead dogs at a home and faced dozens of charges will spend a little more than eight years in prison.
A judge sentenced Vernon Silver on Wednesday morning.
Police found 21 dead dogs inside a home on Pochin Place on March 6, 2016. There was another dog that was alive and rescued.
The surviving dog was outside the courthouse on Wednesday along with demonstrators.
Silver's sentence was 69 years, but the judge suspended 60 years and eight months, leaving eight years and four months for Silver to serve.
The time suspended is based upon good behavior. Silver will also be on supervised probation and cannot own animals. He will have to pay restitution to the city and the shelter that cared for the one surviving dog.
Silver is guilty of animal cruelty and several other charges.
Commonwealth's Attorney Anton Bell said they want to send a strong message to the community.
“We will not tolerate this behavior in our city,” Bell said. “When you commit a crime like this and the court does not send a strong message through a strong sentence then it allows the person to think I can do it again.”
Silver took the stand before the judge sentenced him.
He said at the time of the crime he suffered from gout, which made it hard for him to take care of the dogs.
Silver also said he has regrets, and if he could have done things differently he would have gotten help to take care of the dogs.
Inside the courtroom, the commonwealth showed photos of the dogs, some so decayed they were unrecognizable.
Family and friends of Silver are disappointed with the sentence.
Rosa Turner spoke on behalf of the family, who believes the case was unfair and unjust.
“This was one incident, Mr. Silver had an illness,” Turner said. “We have made mistakes but I can tell you he has been very supportive of the Hampton community.”
Animal activists stood outside the courthouse, including the one surviving dog from that home. Many have followed the case from the beginning, and believe justice was served.
“We're the voice for the animals and we won't tolerated this behavior,” Misty Collins said.
A judge also found Silver guilty of animal cruelty in 2015.
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