Attorney: Client's Rights Violated In Dog Abuse Case

Williams Will Need To Pay $15K To Get Dogs Back
WESH.com
updated 7:48 p.m. MT, Thurs., Jan. 29, 2009
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The fate of 30 dogs confiscated from a home in Daytona Beach last month remains uncertain Thursday.

Following a court hearing Thursday morning, the dogs' owner again told WESH 2 that he never neglected or trained the pit bulls to fight.

Video:Attorney: Client's Rights Violated In Dog Abuse Case

Heath Williams' lawyer, Carlus Haynes, is accusing the city of violating all his client's rights.

Haynes claimed in court that it's his client who is being abused, not the 30 dogs seized from Williams' home on Dec. 18.

Police said the animals were neglected, some with marks that suggest dog fighting, but Haynes claims Williams shouldn't be in court at all because he wasn't properly summoned and insists police were wrong from day one.

"They never had a right to go on Mr. Wiliams' property and then second, even when they got there they didn't see anything that would allow them to take custody of the animals," Haynes said.

City Attorney Anthony Jackson said he is on a firm legal ground despite the summons mix-up because he is obligated to protect the animals.

"There's still a question of whether or not he can adequately care for the dogs and whether he's fit to continue to have ownership and possession of the dogs," Jackson said.

Until everything is sorted out, the courts said Williams can have custody of the dogs, but he will have to come up with $15,000. The Flagler Humane Society said this is the amount due for taking care and housing the dogs for the past six weeks.

Williams said he won't pay a dime, because he has done nothing wrong.

He also learned Thursday two of his adult dogs had to be put down after they suffered fatal injuries while fighting at the shelter.