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Point Marion man to remain on probation after incident

By Jennifer Harr 3 min read

A Point Marion man will remain on probation after a judge determined that allegations he strangled a dog did not warrant a stiffer sentence. Before making his decision Monday, Fayette County Judge John F. Wagner Jr. listened to testimony from an animal shelter employee who testified that she did not believe Christopher Colebank intended to kill a St. Bernard mix.

Colebank was completing court-ordered community service at Noah’s Ark animal shelter in Uniontown on June 10 when Ruth A. Keffer and shelter employee Dustin Thomas asked him to help them euthanize the large dog. During the course of using a control stick to manage the dog, the animal choked.

Colebank, 20, was on probation for cruelty to animals and other, unrelated charges. He was in a car with two others, when one of the men – not Colebank – shot a Black Angus cow in Springhill Township on Dec. 7, 2003.

Keffer characterized the dog as “pretty mean,” noting that the dog was so difficult to deal with that officials drove around the back of the shelter so as not to bring the animal into contact with any more people than they had to. She testified the dog snapped, and tried to bite them. She also told Colebank’s attorney, Gene Grimm, that she was afraid of the animal.

Keffer and Thomas, who she testified was in charge that day, said they were with the dog in the back of the shelter as they tried to calm the animal. Thomas gave the dog a shot meant to calm it so that the fatal dose of medicine could be injected, Keffer testified.

Thomas, Keffer testified, had to give the dog more than one injection.

Keffer testified that Thomas told Colebank to put the dog on a control stick, a metal pole with a noose-type loop at the end meant to hold the animal still. The loop that held the dog’s head, however, was too tight, Keffer testified, and the animal ended up choking to death.

“I don’t think the actual intent was actually for him to choke the dog to death,” Keffer said, noting she was afraid of the animal and did not tell Colebank to loosen the wire around the dog’s neck.

Keffer said she did not believe Colebank was ever trained on how to use the device.

People assigned to work at the shelter to fulfill community service requirements generally have duties that include cleaning kennels, providing the animals food and water and walking them, Keffer said.

Although Wagner dismissed the petition, he said it could be refiled if Colebank violates any terms of his probation.

“Mr. Colebank should understand he is really trying my patience,” Wagner told Grimm.

While he got the sense the dog was difficult to control, Wagner said he remained concerned about both the cow shooting and the dog incident.

“There’s not a lot of respect there for other living things,” Wagner said. “He best choose his steps very carefully.”

Wagner told Colebank to consult with the adult probation office to find another site at which to complete his community service requirement.

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