Dog owner's attorney motions for Dre to be moved from Brighton animal shelter

BRIGHTON — A hearing to determine whether a local dog accused of being “vicious” will be moved to a third-party location will reconvene this afternoon after the dog has been evaluated.

Attorneys from the Animal Law Center, LLC, would like to see Dre, the mixed-breed dog owned by Mary O’Brien, moved to foster care environment with Canine Candor. Attorney Jay Swearingen said the dog would not be loose and they would allow Brighton Animal Control to perform welfare checks to view the dog as well as the security of the location.

City Prosecutor Adam Gollin denied allegations from the O'Brien's attorney that Dre was not being fed or cared for properly in the shelter.. He said the city provides Dre with food and treats provided by the defendants so long as they're in a sealable container.

According to Gollin, the dog has yet to be evaluated and has concerns that the third party may decide it does not want the dog.

Swearingen said the he has no doubts that Canine Candor knows the situation they’d be getting into by sheltering Dre.
Deputy Municipal Court Judge Willard Hardesty believed the hearing to be a bit “premature” and would like all parties – the defense, the city, the foster care provider and Brighton Animal Control – to come to some sort of an agreement before a decision is made.

“I don’t have a problem, theoretically, putting the dog somewhere other than the shelter, as long as it is a secure place where it’s not going to get out, not going to harm anyone else,” Hardesty said.

Court will reconvene as soon as the evaluation has taken place.