SURRY, Va. (AP) _ The founder of an organization that bought NFL star Michael Vick’s former Surry County dogfighting compound is being sought on animal cruelty charges.

 

Dogs Deserve Better bought the 15-acre tract and five-bedroom home last year for use as a sanctuary for dogs that have been chained and penned.

Chief Animal Control Officer Tracy Terry says she filed charges of animal cruelty and inadequate a care of animals against Tamira Thayne on Friday. She declined to say how the dogs were mistreated.

Thayne denied any wrongdoing and told The Associated Press she had not been served the arrest warrants Tuesday afternoon.

Vick, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, served 18 months in federal prison for his involvement in the Bad Newz Kennels dogfighting ring that operated out of the Surry County property.