A judge has granted the Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office custody of 30 of the 44 animals deputies seized from a Carrollton home in July.

The Sept. 5 ruling came just over a month after deputies searched a home in the 13000 block of Smiths Neck Road on July 24 following multiple tips alleging illegal animal breeding and selling by its occupant, as well as animal abuse.

According to Deputy 1st Class Alecia Paul, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Office, General District Court Judge Nicole Belote allowed the unnamed occupant to keep two of the seized dogs but ordered the occupant never to own more than two personal pets.

The remaining 12 animals were being boarded at the residence as a service, Paul said. The court ordered that these animals be returned to their respective owners, she said.

The Sheriff’s Office is not releasing the name of the hearing’s defendant, who to date has not been charged with a crime.

“The incident is still being investigated by our office regarding criminal charges,” Paul said.

Deputies said in July that they’d seized 39 dogs, four miniature horses and one full-size horse after several hours at the premises. 

The dogs ranged from small breeds like Yorkies and Toy Poodles to Dobermans and other large breeds. Deputies, at the time of the animals’ seizure, said they’d been provided very little food and water and were kept in areas exposed to the outdoors.