Md. man’s conviction for killing dog reversed

Posted: 7:44 pm Wed, February 3, 2010
By Associated Press

A state appeals court has reversed a Western Maryland man’s convictions for killing a neighbor’s dog.

The Court of Special Appeals ruled Wednesday in the case involving Williamsport resident Jeffrey Hurd.

Hurd was convicted in 2008 of aggravated cruelty to animals and malicious destruction of property for shooting a black Labrador retriever that was chasing a deer across his land.

The appeals court found that the Washington County trial judge misinterpreted a state law that allows citizens in some counties to kill dogs that are pursuing deer.

The court upheld Hurd’s convictions on two identical counts for killing another neighbor’s German shepherd that had run onto his property.