VENICE, FL – Julia Ballard, a resilient 92-year-old, is grappling with both physical and emotional pain after a harrowing incident at her property in Venice. Ballard, who owns Ballard’s Farm Supply, suffered bruises while trying to prevent the theft of her beloved dogs.
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft, armed with a partial license plate number. They stress that such incidents should never occur. Ballard’s ordeal began when a woman, accompanied by two others, visited her business with intentions to purchase one of her dogs. Despite Ballard’s refusal, the situation escalated.
The women began loading three dogs, including a poodle and a Chihuahua, into a black Lexus SUV. When Ballard attempted to intervene, she was physically assaulted. “She kicked me in the stomach,” Ballard recounted, pointing to her bruises.
Ballard was hospitalized, and deputies quickly arrived on the scene. Authorities are working diligently to gather suspect information, hoping to make an arrest soon. An employee managed to note the first three letters of the vehicle’s license plate: WCL.
Beyond the physical wounds, Ballard is deeply troubled by the loss of her dogs and fears for their safety. She describes the world as increasingly unpredictable. “People should be held accountable,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Ballard remains active in her business, which she now runs mostly alone after her son suffered a heart attack last year. She continues to breed and sell dogs, a passion that has become more difficult amid recent personal and professional struggles.