Two bills advancing through the Virginia General Assembly aim to regulate controversial breeding practices at unaccredited zoos, following ongoing legal issues at Natural Bridge Zoo.
Five individuals associated with Natural Bridge Zoo face multiple charges, including animal cruelty and forgery, following a months-long undercover investigation that led to the seizure of nearly 100 animals in December.
Natural Bridge Zoo owner Gretchen Mogensen’s stay in jail will be extended after new indictments were handed down against her, former zoo owners Karl and Deborah Mogensen, and two others connected to the zoo.
New information Thursday night in the Natural Bridge Zoo Giraffe saga. Owners of the Zoo appealed a Circuit Court Ruling allowing the state to seize the remaining giraffes.
There’s a new twist in the years-long legal saga involving the Natural Bridge Zoo and the Attorney General’s Animal Law Unit. Saturday, a lawyer representing zoo owner Gretchen Mogensen and former owners Karl and Debbie Mogensen filed a lawsuit in Rockbridge County District Court alleging a slew of civil rights violations made by the state over the past few years.
The search for two missing baby giraffes from the Natural Bridge Zoo is gaining new attention after PETA and actress Alicia Silverstone teamed up to offer a $50,000 reward for tips leading to their location.
The owner of the Natural Bridge Zoo turned herself into jail after failing to comply with a court order to surrender two missing giraffe calves to the state.
The legal case surrounding the Natural Bridge Zoo took another turn Wednesday in Rockbridge County Circuit Court. Zoo owner, Gretchen “Sasha” Mogensen, was found guilty of contempt of court for failing to allow state investigators access to her property on three separate occasions in April.
10 News has learned that one of the four giraffes seized from the Natural Bridge Zoo died while being transported to Georgia in May, prompting a criminal investigation into the circumstances of its death, according to Cardinal News.
Natural Bridge Zoo owners Sasha “Gretchen” Mogensen and Karl Mogensen were in a Rockbridge County Courtroom Wednesday, where they were both found guilty of contempt of court.
When state officials inspected the zoo’s giraffes back in April, they made a shocking discovery: two of the giraffes which had previously been pregnant had given birth. Their calves were nowhere in sight. In fact, the births were so recent, one giraffe still had afterbirth on its tail, according to court records.
A lengthy legal battle over the future of animals currently housed at the Natural Bridge Zoo hit a new front Tuesday, as authorities seized one of the zoo’s giraffes after failing to do so on Monday.
Natural Bridge Zoo livestreamed Monday’s seizure on it’s Facebook page as staff said the Attorney General's Animal Law Unit arrived to remove a giraffe.
Natural Bridge Zoo’s former owners will appear in court on Monday afternoon for continued post-trial motions, following a decision in March that found the state was justified in seizing 71 of the 100 animals they took during a search last December.
Natural Bridge Zoo appeared in court on Thursday for post-trial motions, after a decision in March that found that the state was justified in seizing 71 of the 100 animals they took during a search last December.
A jury has decided the state was justified in seizing 71 out of 100 animals they took during a search at Natural Bridge Zoo last December.
On Wednesday, we heard from more of the state’s vets who recommended the seizure of the almost 100 animals in December.
The Natural Bridge Zoo appeared in court on Wednesday, as both the zoo and state are appealing a judge’s ruling that only a little over half of about 100 animals seized from the zoo during a raid by the state in December was justified.
Some of the animals seized from the Natural Bridge Zoo will have new homes after they were subjected to cruelty and inadequate care, according to a finding by the Lexington-Rockbridge District Court on Friday.
A decision on whether the seizure of animals at Natural Bridge Zoo was justified could be made by a judge next week, meanwhile, the lead attorney on the case is questioning the credibility of the state’s Animal Law Unit.
A judge will soon decide whether or not Natural Bridge Zoo will get back nearly 100 animals seized by the state.
A decision in whether or not the state’s seizure of nearly 100 animals from Natural Bridge Zoo is justified could be made by the middle of next week.
The Attorney General’s office rested its case in Natural Bridge Zoo’s animal seizure hearing on Tuesday, but the defense will have a chance to call witnesses on Wednesday.
Natural Bridge Zoo owners appeared in court for the first time following an investigative search that resulted in the seizure of just under 100 animals about two weeks ago.
A federal judge has denied an injunction filed by the owners of Natural Bridge Zoo, and they are still set to appear in Rockbridge County court on Wednesday.
The fate of Natural Bridge Zoo is still up in the air, as the zoo is set to face a seizure hearing on Wednesday, but the zoo’s attorney has filed for an injunction. A federal judge heard the argument on Monday but still hasn’t made a decision about whether court will go on on Wednesday.
A status conference has been set for Dec. 18 in federal court, after Natural Bridge Zoo attorney Mario Williams filed for an injunction, and new court documents detail more on zoo animals living environments.
Gretchen Mogensen with the Natural Bridge Zoo was there when the search warrant was executed and when Zeus the tiger was put down.
