A Worland man accused of shooting his own dog six times this winter pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty and other criminal charges Wednesday, in Washakie County District Court.
Donald “Dudley” Wright, 60, shot Axel the border collie mix the night of Jan. 13 at his home on Highway 20 North near Worland, Wyoming, an evidentiary affidavit alleges.
Sabrina McClain, a friend of the concerned neighbor women who share a lot with Wright, called in the shooting to law enforcement, as well as indications that Wright was terrorizing the women and trying to hunt down the dog to finish it off.
Axel was shot in the leg, shoulder, jaw and chest, McClain told Cowboy State Daily after Wright’s initial charging in March. His jaw and mouth were badly damaged, and he had a plate and other hardware installed in his jaw.
Axel still hasn’t had the plate removed because he doesn’t have enough bone growth in his jaw, McClain told Cowboy State Daily in a Wednesday interview.
His mouth has been infected, and he’s just finished a two-week round of antibiotics with more treatments likely in the future, she said.
The four bullets that his veterinarian chose to leave in his body are there to stay, McClain said.
Axel is in training and “doing very well.” The other day he stood in a chicken coop and, despite 20 chickens milling around him and one touching his face, Axel “didn’t even budge.”
The milestone is significant: Wright initially told police that he shot Axel for killing chickens. The prosecutor has since argued in court that the evidence, rather, suggests that Wright was upset at Axel for eating his heart medication.
Axel’s shoulder wound is expected abscess from time to time, but it was otherwise “OK,” McClain wrote in a March 13 Facebook post.
The Other Dog
Wright is out on bond, but not allowed to have pets while the case is ongoing.
Through his attorney H. Richard Hopkinson, Wright lodged a concern during his Wednesday arraignment about his dog of seven years, “Sadie,” who is staying at the house next door but often comes over to visit him.
The neighbor women “have possession of the dog for some reason,” said Hopkinson. “But anyway, it’s frequently let out, and it’ll come over to his property and try to get in – because that’s where it’s lived for seven years.”
Hopkinson asked Overfield to let the dog be placed with Wright’s friend, who lives elsewhere, adding, “the dog would be properly cared for there.”
Washakie County Attorney Tony Barton disputed the request, saying he doesn’t know who the friend is – and it’s been reported that Sadie keeps going to Wright’s house because he tempts her by leaving his doors open and setting out food.
Yet, Overfield noted, Sadie is still Wright’s dog.
“The court believes he can place his dog with whomever he desires to care for the dog,” said the judge.
Five Days, Actually
Barton said he believes a trial in this case should take four days, but Hopkinson said he’d need at least five days.
Overfield said she’ll block off five days for a trial.
Wright faces a charge of felony cruelty to animals, which is punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of $5,000. His second felony charge of using a gun while committing a felony, carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
The remaining charges are misdemeanors. They are:
Property destruction (punishable by up to six months in jail and $750 in fines)
Breach of peace (up to six months and $750)
Stalking (up to one year and $750 each).
The stalking charges stem from claims that while hunting for Axel, Wright harassed the women who live in the home next door.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
