Owner says animals were found dead Monday morning; county animal control confirms investigation is underway.
RINGGOLD, Va. — Twenty-three fawns were found dead after two dogs broke into an enclosure at Ringgold Wildlife Rescue early Monday, the facility’s owner said, triggering a Pittsylvania County animal control investigation and renewed scrutiny of how local rules apply when dogs attack wildlife at permitted rescues.
Authorities and the owner say the dogs entered a fenced area holding the young deer sometime overnight and were still inside when the scene was discovered. Animal Control responded, secured the dogs and assisted with cleanup. The case is active, and officials said the county’s dangerous-dog charge does not apply when the victims are not cats or dogs. The dogs have been released back to their owner while the investigation continues. The incident has rattled the rescue community heading into winter, when rehabilitators typically prepare animals for release and plan staffing, feed and veterinary schedules.
The rescue’s owner, Larry Oakes, said he found the enclosure shortly after dawn. He told reporters he heard barking as he approached and realized the fawns were dead. “They’re family. They’re defenseless, and we give them a life they otherwise would not have,” Oakes said. He reported the attack to Animal Control, which arrived and contained the dogs on site. Animal Control Officer Leslie Fowler said the case remains open, declining to share the dogs’ breed or provide identifying details about the owner during the active investigation. Fowler said the owner faces a charge related to rabies vaccinations, and confirmed that the county’s dangerous-dog statute does not cover attacks on wildlife or livestock at an operation like a fawn enclosure. Oakes said volunteers and officers spent hours removing the bodies and assessing damage to fencing and gates.
Officials have not released a timeline for potential charges beyond the vaccination count, and have not said how the dogs entered the pen or whether the fence had been cut, dug under, or otherwise breached. Fowler said investigators are reviewing how the enclosure was secured and whether any prior complaints exist about the same dogs leaving their property. The dogs were returned to their owner after the initial response, which is common in cases where criminal proceedings are not immediately filed, Fowler said. The county has not disclosed whether the animals will be quarantined or monitored under a control order. Oakes said the rescue was caring for squirrels and opossums in addition to the deer, and none of those animals appeared injured.
Ringgold Wildlife Rescue is a small facility in Pittsylvania County that rehabilitates young deer until they can be released. The region sits near the North Carolina line and includes rural stretches where free-roaming dogs sometimes encounter farms and pens. Records on file with the state show Virginia sets out separate processes for dogs that kill livestock or poultry and for dogs that threaten pets or people. Those rules can leave grey areas for wildlife rescues, advocates say, because fawns are neither pets nor typical farm stock, and the rescues are not traditional livestock operations. Oakes said the pen held 23 fawns taken in this year, the last of the season. He described them as healthy and near the point when caretakers reduce human contact to prepare for release.
Investigators are now documenting the damage and determining whether additional counts are appropriate under county or state law. Any civil claims would likely hinge on ownership, fencing, and whether the dogs had a history of roaming. County officials have not announced any hearing date, but said updates would follow once reports are complete. In similar Virginia cases involving livestock losses, owners can pursue compensation and, in some circumstances, courts can impose restrictions on dogs that have attacked. Whether those provisions fit a licensed wildlife enclosure will be a key question for local authorities. For now, Oakes said he is focused on repairing the facility, calling the loss “devastating” and “hard to process.”
Neighbors and volunteers filtered through the property Monday and Tuesday as Oakes and helpers straightened panels and hauled tools. “It’s quiet out here now,” said Jamie Reed, a nearby resident who has donated feed. “You’re used to hearing the chirps and movement in that pen, and it’s gone.” A volunteer, Patricia Evans, said the rescue had been planning winter release checks for the group. “We had a calendar taped on the wall,” Evans said. “The dates are there. The animals aren’t.” Oakes said he hopes people will wait on speculation until Animal Control finishes its work. “We want answers,” he said, “and we want to make sure this never happens again.”
As of Wednesday, the dogs remained with their owner and the county said the case is still under review. Officials expect to share the next update when the investigative report is forwarded for any charging decisions later this month. No public hearing has been scheduled, and authorities have not announced a quarantine or control order for the dogs.
Author note: Last updated November 19, 2025.