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Emotions Flare During Dog Attack Hearing

Pit Bull Owner Pleads Not Guilty After Dog Kills Horse
Livingston, MI - Emotions ran high in the arraignment of a Handy Township man whose pit bulls mauled a horse in its stall last month. The owner of the horse, Kara Sepulveda, fought back tears as she watched David Clyde McGalliard plead not guilty to two counts of allowing animals to stray and three counts of having unlicensed dogs, all misdemeanor charges.

Magistrate Brian Brown ordered McGalliard to pay a $10,000 personal recognizance bond. He also can not have any dogs in his care. He ordered McGalliard to turn a third dog not involved in the attack over to the Livingston County Animal Shelter within 24 hours.

"You have proven you're not competent to handle pets and certainly not dangerous pets," Brown said.

Afterwards, Kara Sepulveda's husband, David, confronted McGalliard with a few heated words outside the hearing room about his responsibility for the incident. The Sepulvedas said this wasn't the first time McGalliard's dogs were seen roaming the area. They didn't think their horses were in danger.

After paying his bond, McGalliard said the incident was an accident and that he only let the dogs out that previous night to relieve themselves. He said they didn't return as usual.

"I've had these dogs around my kids and thought they were friendly," he said. "I'm just really sorry and apologize. Of course I feel really bad. I've taken a loss, too."

Related story:
01/31/08: Arabian Horse Euthanized after Pit Bull Attack

Labels: Horse Attack