There is an upcoming appeal at Frederick County Circuit Court over five German Shepherds who have committed depredation. The German Shepherds have public support on social media, but the residents in the neighborhood are concerned about safety.
Five German Shepherds
According to a judge ruling in August, five German Shepherds have committed depredation by chasing down cattle on a farm in Frederick County. One of the cows had an injury, but nobody witnessed it happen. The dogs in question are Ranger, Ahote, Waya, Remington, and Joey.
According to state law, depredation is defined as dogs chasing, injuring, or killing poultry or livestock. One of its consequences is euthanasia. However, the dogs were only ordered to be removed to a state not bordering Virginia.
Michael Sean Smith is the owner of the dogs and a county resident. He is appealing the decision to get his dogs back as he considers them his ‘kids.’ However, he is guilty of violating a state law that protects livestock from canines. The appeal is set to happen on Friday, March 1. Moreover, his appeal reopens the possibility of euthanasia.
Smith says his dogs are ‘celebrities’ because they are well-known around the neighborhood. He travels with them, everyone using his Ford F350 pickup. The dogs patiently wait on the truck for his return whenever he goes into a stoor. They have been featured on TikTok and other platforms.
Concerns Around the Neighborhood
Several neighbors have contacted The Winchester Star since it reported on the dogs’ predicament. They have expressed concerns over the dogs’ behavior and Smith’s ability to contain them to his property. He was found guilty of a charge involving his German Shepherds being at large. Smith is also appealing that charge.
David Rusk, the BrookAnnLeigh Homeowners Association president, said he had witnessed the dogs ‘tormenting’ cattle. According to Rusk, they behaved in a threatening manner. Furthermore, German Shepherds have escaped Smith’s property multiple times to roam around as a pack. He says that Smith always leaves the gate open. The dogs go out in a gang, leaving him and the neighbors afraid of potential injury.
However, no one in the community wants them to be euthanized. There are safety concerns because Smith has nine dogs on his property — one husky and eight German Shepherds. Moreover, the other residents have had to adjust their exercise routines. They are avoiding Smith’s area of Lone Willow Lane because of negative experiences with his dogs.
The Dog Owner’s Response
Smith says his dogs are not threatening, and Rusk is ‘full of it.’ He says it is a lie because his dogs are always in the yard. There have been two instances when his gate was open.
Rusk shared a photo of a petition dated January 2023. The petition expressed concerns over Smith’s dogs. It was signed by 14 residents and sent to the Frederick County Planning Commission. According to the petition, residents have reported multiple dogs threateningly approaching them on their property. They are pleading for assistance to control the issue of fear of injury and excessive noise.
Court documents state that five dogs chased cattle on a neighbor’s property at 6 a.m. on June 22. The dogs allegedly injured one cow, but the individual culpability of each dog could not be determined with reasonable certainty.
On the other hand, Smith claims that his dog never threatened people. He says his dogs are well-trained, non-aggressive, and loyal. In addition, he says that while the five German Shepherds were briefly loose, they were innocent. He said the dogs were nowhere near their cows.
The Cow Case
According to Smith, he noticed his dogs had gotten out within minutes. He immediately drove to the neighbor’s property and saw the five German Shepherds playing but weren’t concerned with the cows. Smith says the dog closest to the cow was 50 yards away.
Meanwhile, court documents state that the cattle entered the feedlot before the dogs. Someone called law enforcement, and Smith came with his truck. He called his dogs, four of them leaving the farm with Smith. Moreover, Smith did not see any dogs chasing livestock, and nobody saw the canines making physical contact.
However, the fifth dog, Ranger, remained on the farm, standing in the gateway. The dog blocked the only exit for the cattle. Cow number 28 was later presented with injuries consistent with a canid attack.
