SARAH BETH MAIDEN found guilty of felony animal cruelty in the death of a German Shepherd named Rosie

 -Virginia, USA -

⚠️WARNING⚠️The article contains a picture of Rosie some of you may find distressing⚠️

On September 10, 2025, in Page County Circuit Court, following a one-day trial, the jury took less than an hour to find SARAH BETH MAIDEN (pictured) guilty of cruelty to a companion animal in the death of her 2-year-old German Shepherd named Rosie.

Back in October 2024, a devastating picture of Rosie spread on social media compelling community members to rightfully seek justice for her.

The photo showed Rosie lying on the ground in MAIDEN’s yard chained to a fence in an extreme state of emaciation.

On October 24, 2024, deputy Corbin of the Page County Sheriff’s Office, went to MAIDEN’s home on 715 Sixth Street in Shenandoah to conduct an animal welfare check and found Rosie in the condition seen in the graphic photo below.

Rosie was taken to the Verona Emergency Vet Hospital in Augusta County. The results of the blood draw indicated that the Rosie was severely dehydrated and the muscle fibers were breaking down due to inadequate food and water.

The vet who examined Rosie determined her prognosis was poor and the only options were expensive intensive care or humane euthanasia. Rosie was sadly euthanized.

MAIDEN had fostered Rosie from the Rockingham County SPCA before adopting her.

MAIDEN was initially charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty. However, on February 13, 2025, at a preliminary hearing, General District Court Judge Kenneth Alger II certified the Class 6 felony of torturing a dog to a circuit court grand jury. In doing so, MAIDEN’s previous misdemeanor charge was elevated to felony animal torture. On March 5, 2025, the grand jury indicted MAIDEN on that charge.

Now, back to September 10, when MAIDEN was found guilty. In the morning she pleaded not guilty to the charge, then the jury selection began. After the jury was selected, the court went into recess.

At around 1:30 p.m. acting Commonwealth Attorney Armanda Clymer and MAIDEN’s defense attorney, Scott Hansen, gave opening statements.

During the trial, Clymer presented evidence of MAIDEN’s lack of care and failure to take Rosie to a veterinarian for treatment ultimately leading to Rosie being euthanized.

In her closing argument Clymer said: “Owning a pet is not a privilege, it’s a responsibility. The dog couldn’t walk, it had to be carried into the vet…the defendant left the dog in her yard for as long as it took the dog to get to that stage. That dog did not get to that point in two days. That’s a willful act.”

Scott Hansen argued that Rosie had pre-existing conditions consistent with a tick-borne illness such as Lyme disease and that his client’s actions did not meet the merits of a “willful act” to cause Rosie harm. The defense motioned to strike the felony charge and then again to introduce lesser misdemeanor charges.

Hansen said: “It’s like saying a parent is guilty because their child has cancer. She did not cause the dog to have Lyme disease.”

Judge Clark Andrew Ritchie denied the motion to strike and agreed with arguments of the prosecution that no effort was made to properly address Rosie’s condition.

While the jury was excused from the room, in his decision Judge Ritchie said: “I have evidence that the dog had pre-existing conditions. I have evidence that those circumstances were known. I have evidence that there were attempts to surrender [the dog]. But quite simply, she did not take it to a vet.”

Then, he told Hansen: “You use the example of parents who have a child with cancer…but I would point out those parents would take their child to the doctor.”

MAIDEN’s sentencing hearing is set for January 14, 2026, at 1:30 p.m..

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced also from Page Valley News. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

Pictures shared from Dogs Deserve Better Blue Ridge.

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