New trial date set for man in dog-abuse case

10/1/2003

BOWLING GREEN - A new trial date has been set for Clayton Sheperd, formerly of Haskins, Ohio, whose 14 Alaskan husky dogs were confiscated by authorities in April.

Mr. Sheperd will appear in Bowling Green Municipal Court on Oct. 28 for a jury trial on one misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals as well as charges of inducing panic, obstructing justice, and failure to comply with the order of a police officer.

The new date was set after Mr. Sheperd's attorney, Bill Stephenson, withdrew and a new attorney, Scott Coon, was appointed. Visiting Judge Judson Spore also ordered the dogs, which were in the care of the Alaskan Rescue Coalition, be returned to the Wood County Humane Society.

Wood County sheriff's deputies seized the dogs April 10 after the humane society expressed concern because the dogs were chained to barrels affixed to a homemade trailer.