Kevin Fifield, the Morgan Hill man charged with dragging his
sick dog along a downtown sidewalk and threatening police, was
arraigned Tuesday in South County Courthouse.
Kevin Fifield, the Morgan Hill man charged with dragging his sick dog along a downtown sidewalk and threatening police, was arraigned Tuesday in South County Courthouse.
Fifield, 59, is charged with a felony count of animal cruelty and two felony counts of resisting arrest according to Amy Cornell, Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office spokeswoman.
He was also appointed a defense attorney from the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s office, Cornell added.
Fifield was arrested the afternoon of July 27, when someone called police to report that he was dragging a dog by the collar and leash on the sidewalk near Monterey Road and Second Street, police said. The witness told police the dog appeared to be “half dead.”
When police arrived, Fifield told them the situation was none of their business picking up the 11-year-old, 25-pound Australian cattle dog and continued walking, police said. Officers stepped in front of him to stop him and he threatened to kill at least one of them.
Fifield struggled briefly before officers were able to subdue him, Sgt. Jerry Neumayer said.
The dog was taken to San Martin Animal Hospital by the city’s animal control division. The dog, named Snowflake, has cancer and was diagnosed with a high fever. Her paws were bleeding because her nails had been ground down on the pavement due to being dragged.
Snowflake was in serious condition as of last week. An update on her health status was not available.
Fifield remains in custody in county jail, in lieu of $100,000 bail.
His plea hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the South County Courthouse.
