JEFFERSON —
Animal rights advocates drew attention to animal abuse legislation Monday morning while a Colebrook Township man faced a firestorm in court after police say he hunted down and killed his neighbor’s dogs.
Walter Pace, 66, of Colebrook Township, was charged with two counts of prohibitions concerning companion animals for the alleged shooting of two dogs on April 15, according to Eastern County Court records, courtroom testimony and sheriff’s reports.
The protesters set up shop on the sidewalk along West Jefferson Street, adjacent to the Ashtabula County Courthouse. They carried protest signs and had sympathetic dogs in hand. There was no confrontation with Pace, but they are angry about reports that the dogs, named Bugle and Violet, were shot by the suspect, even though they apparently never entered his property.
Several of the animal rights advocates are from Ashtabula County while others said they traveled from nearby communities to draw attention to the need for stricter animal abuse legislation, said Mike Smeck of Amherst.
He said a 2008 case led to an attempt to pass legislation that would include felony penalties for severe abuse of animals. He said legislation is pending in the Statehouse relating to felony penalties for kennel owners and others closely involved with the breeding of animals.
Smeck said the group would like to see that bill eventually expanded to include felony charges for anyone involved in severe abuse of animals. He said the animal cruelty cases are important because studies indicate people involved in animal abuse often “graduate” to hurting people.
Pace, through his attorney, Leo Talikka, entered a plea of not guilty to the charges Monday morning before Eastern County Court Judge Robert Wynn. Wynn set a $5,000 personal recognizance bond.
During the hearing, prosecutors upgraded the charges from second-degree misdemeanors to first-degree misdemeanors, potentially doubling the penalty, which could be as high as 180 days in jail on each count.
Linda Richards, owner of the dogs, attended the hearing and quietly listened during the short hearing. She said her pets were “inside dogs” that went outside to play and one of the dogs chewed through a collar and they took off.
Bugle and Violet were last seen walking along Mains Road near the Trumbull County line when a witness said he saw a man shoot them and leave them for dead on the side of the road, deputies said.
As the protesters stood on the sidewalk outside the courthouse, many passing motorists honked their horns in support and one woman brought a bag of dog food for the dogs.
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WARREN DILLAWAY / Star Beacon ANIMAL RIGHTS advocates (from left) Diane Carr, Irene Fiala and Krista Smith protest in favor of legislation designed to protect animals. The animal supporters stood outside Eastern County Court on Monday morning where a man had his initial appearance regarding two animal abuse charges.
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WARREN DILLAWAY / Star Beacon WALTER PACE, 66, of 406 Storey Road, Colebrook Township, listens to Eastern County Judge Robert Wynn on Monday morning during his initial appearance on animal abuse charges.
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