Hope Eunice Bush, 54, of Lusby, has been charged in Calvert County District Court with misdemeanor animal cruelty and misdemeanor animal cruelty for failing to provide necessary care after authorities said a cream-colored Poodle mix-type dog was found in severely neglected condition at a Solomons veterinary office on May 2, 2026. The case remains open, and a criminal summons was issued on May 12, 2026.
The application for charges was filed by Animal Control Officer Limerick, listed in the court record as the arresting and complainant officer. The summons was given to the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office for service.
Court documents state that ACO Limerick responded at about 9 a.m. on May 2, 2026, to Solomons Veterinary Medical Center on H.G. Trueman Road in Solomons after a report of a dog that had allegedly been neglected and abused. The officer wrote that Dr. Gary Holmes, DVM, met the officer and escorted the officer toward an exam room, where a strong odor was detected coming from the exam area.
According to the application for charges, Dr. Holmes showed the officer what appeared to be a severely matted dog and stated, “this is the worst case of neglect have ever seen, can’t in good conscious send this dog home with its owner.” The officer reported seeing a cream-colored dog on an exam table with severely matted fur, multiple layers of compacted mats containing fecal matter and debris, and matting around the eyes so extensive that it prevented the dog from seeing. The officer also wrote that the dog’s feet were heavily matted, with thick layers of fur preventing observation of the toenails, and that a strong odor consistent with urine and feces was coming from the dog.
The documents state that Dr. Holmes advised the dog was a 12-year-old Poodle mix-type dog and had been brought in because the dog had developed a cough. ACO Limerick then spoke with Bush in an exam room and asked how long the dog had been in that condition. According to the application, Bush stated, “I use to take [the dog] every month to Petco for grooming, but fell on hard times.” The officer wrote that Bush further stated the dog had not been groomed in approximately five to six years.
The application says ACO Limerick spoke with Bush about the dog’s condition and that Bush repeatedly referenced having previously spent more than $100 per month on the dog’s upkeep. The officer wrote that Bush acknowledged understanding that the breed required regular grooming and maintenance. The officer also wrote that the amount of fur and waste the dog was carrying could be extremely painful, could pull on the skin, could cause loss of blood flow, and could lead to sores and wounds.
Due to the dog’s condition and what the officer described as apparent prolonged neglect, ACO Limerick advised that the dog would be seized. The officer returned to the exam area, where veterinary staff were treating the dog, and Dr. Holmes advised that staff were shaving the dog and still needed to take an X-ray and address the cough.
Court documents state that when the officer returned later that afternoon, staff were still removing the matted fur and said the process would take several more hours. The next morning, May 3, 2026, the officer returned to the veterinary center. Dr. Holmes stated the dog was ready for transport and told the officer that the full shave had taken about 5½ hours. According to the application, Dr. Holmes also said the dog weighed 21 pounds when she arrived, but after grooming weighed 13.3 pounds. Staff gave the officer two bags containing about eight pounds of soiled, matted fur, which the officer said had a strong odor of urine.
The application states that the dog was transported to Linda L. Kelly Animal Shelter. Court records allege that Bush inflicted unnecessary suffering on the dog and failed to provide necessary veterinary care while the dog was in her charge and custody. A summons issued on May 12, 2026, states that failure to appear for the scheduled court date could result in a warrant being issued.
