Breeder barred from owning dogs

Authorities have barred a Stuarts Draft dog breeder from owning companion animals for two years.

The move comes a few days after Kyle and Kim Brydge, owners of Oak Leaf Kennel on China Clay Road, relinquished to authorities more than 90 dogs.

The kennel failed to provided adequate care, food, water and shelter for 99 dogs, according to an Augusta County General District Court order signed by Judge Michael Quigley Jr.

The order states Kyle Bridge gave up the dogs voluntarily Friday after a routine inspection by a state veterinarian found inadequate care of the mostly small-breed dogs. Also on hand during the search were Augusta County Animal Control and members of a regional animal shelter, who worked into the night to remove dogs from the property.

No criminal charges have been pressed, but the investigation into Brydge is not considered closed, according to the Office of the Virginia State Veterinarian.

Reached by phone, Kyle Brydge declined to comment.

Exactly how many dogs were seized remains unclear in court records. The order barring the Brydges from keeping dogs states 99 were seized. An animal control search warrant states 97. A signed statement by Kyle Brydge refers to 94 dogs, and includes a list of about 20 small-breed female dogs.

Many have already been transported to shelters across the state, leaving about two-dozen in the area, according to Augusta County authorities.

Oak Leaf Kennel is operated on Brydge’s 17-acre property, which has a special-use permit from Augusta County permitting 106 dogs to be kept there, according to county records.