Kevin Fifield, the Morgan Hill man accused of dragging his dog
across a downtown sidewalk, will seek to be reunited with his pet
at a hearing Friday.
Kevin Fifield, the Morgan Hill man accused of dragging his dog across a downtown sidewalk, will seek to be reunited with his pet at a hearing Friday.
Fifield, 59, was scheduled to plea to felony charges of animal cruelty and resisting or deterring an officer at South County Courthouse Tuesday. However, he did not make a plea and the hearing was delayed.
Since his arrest July 27, Fifield has been subject to a “stay-away” court order keeping him at least 100 yards away from his Australian cattle dog, Snowflake, for the duration of the trial, according to Fifield’s attorney Milton Gonzalez. As a result, Fifield has stayed at a hotel since he posted bail out of Santa Clara County Jail.
Fifield rescued the dog, which suffers from cancer, when it was a puppy. Before his arrest, he used to play ball with Snowflake daily, Gonzalez said.
The last two months of separation between Fifield and Snowflake has been stressful for both.
“He loves this dog, and the dog loves him,” Gonzalez said. “The dog still looks up the stairs (of their home), looking for him.”
Fifield’s wife Marcy Powers said the couple have owned Snowflake for 11 years. They rescued the animal who was born with a spinal defect. The couple have spent “thousands of dollars” on surgeries and other medical care to allow the dog to survive its birth defect which has resulted in serious spinal injuries over the years. Medical costs also include treatment of cancerous tumors that Snowflake was diagnosed with in October 2009.
On July 27, someone called police to report that Fifield was dragging a dog by the collar and leash on the sidewalk near Monterey Road and Second Street, police said.
When police arrived, Fifield told them the situation was none of their business, and he picked up the 11-year-old, 25-pound 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, police said.
The dog was taken to San Martin Animal Hospital by the city’s animal control division. Snowflake was diagnosed with a high fever by vets at the animal hospital, police said. Her paws were bleeding because her nails had been ground down on the pavement due to being dragged.
Gonzalez explained that Snowflake walks slowly and crookedly due to previous injuries related to her birth defect, and that’s why it might have looked like she was being dragged.
The dog is now being cared for by Powers at the couple’s Morgan Hill home. She said Tuesday that Snowflake’s cancer is terminal, and her veterinarian took her off medication recently.
Powers described the trio as a family.
“She knows (Fifield) is not home. We’re the only family she’s ever known,” Powers said.
Fifield’s plea hearing, and the hearing to reconsider the stay-away order are now scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday at South County Courthouse in Morgan Hill.
If convicted on all three charges, Fifield faces a maximum prison sentence of four years, four months.
