POWHATAN COUNTY -
Five corrections officers are facing charges after a disturbing crime involving a dog.
Police say the officers from a Goochland facility were at a kennel in Powhatan training to become K-9 handlers, when one of them touched a dog inappropriately and the act was videotaped.
A pair of Goochland County veterinarians believe the act was not only wrong, but those involved shouldn't be allowed to care for dogs.
Doctors Margaret Washburn and Tamara Leopold are troubled by those charged with animal cruelty.
Dr. Leopold says, "I definitely am concerned about what would be the next step and what they could potentially do to an animal in the future."
Dr. Washburn says, "I don't know of any training method that would employ, you know, sexual manipulation or behavior of the dog."
While some veterinarian's question if it was animal cruelty, they do believe it's wrong and that the suspects should not be allowed to care for animals.
Dr. Leopold says, "I guess I would be concerned about what would be the next step? You know, would they do something else that could be harmful to the animal that they think may not be."
CBS 6 did speak with two people who say they have heard of this technique for getting a great control of a dog, one said it works, the other says there is no place in animal training for this to happen.
Four of the officers are due in court in November, the fifth has a December court date and three of the five are still employed with the Virginia Department of Corrections.
Police say the officers from a Goochland facility were at a kennel in Powhatan training to become K-9 handlers, when one of them touched a dog inappropriately and the act was videotaped.
A pair of Goochland County veterinarians believe the act was not only wrong, but those involved shouldn't be allowed to care for dogs.
Doctors Margaret Washburn and Tamara Leopold are troubled by those charged with animal cruelty.
Dr. Leopold says, "I definitely am concerned about what would be the next step and what they could potentially do to an animal in the future."
Dr. Washburn says, "I don't know of any training method that would employ, you know, sexual manipulation or behavior of the dog."
While some veterinarian's question if it was animal cruelty, they do believe it's wrong and that the suspects should not be allowed to care for animals.
Dr. Leopold says, "I guess I would be concerned about what would be the next step? You know, would they do something else that could be harmful to the animal that they think may not be."
CBS 6 did speak with two people who say they have heard of this technique for getting a great control of a dog, one said it works, the other says there is no place in animal training for this to happen.
Four of the officers are due in court in November, the fifth has a December court date and three of the five are still employed with the Virginia Department of Corrections.
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