Attorney General Miyares announced that a jury granted Rockbridge County custody of 71 animals from the Natural Bridge Zoo after a six-day jury trial. The Attorney General's Animal Law Unit represented the County and secured the landmark verdict. Miyares expressed gratitude for the jury's deliberation and law enforcement partners' assistance in ensuring the animals' future welfare, stating, "Virginians support clean, safe environments for animals, whether they be personal pets or zoo animals."
The Office of the Attorney General revealed that post-trial motions are scheduled for April 4 at 2:00 PM but refrained from further comment as the criminal investigation remains open and ongoing.
The granted animals include unspecified species from the zoo. Further details about the case were not disclosed in the provided information.