By Associated Press - Wednesday, March 22, 2017

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (AP) - An animal shelter director has been fined $500 for ordering employees to illegally euthanize a dog.

News outlets report Judge Warren Davis on Tuesday found Gwinnett County Animal Services director Curt Harrell guilty of criminal contempt after killing a dog in spite of a restraining order. Harrell was not given jail time.

Harrell testified to ordering that an 18-month old lab mix named Ricki be euthanized after consulting with county attorneys.



Arguing that the dog was adoptable, animal advocates had convinced Davis to issue a restraining order last month blocking Ricki from being euthanized. Ricki was killed a few weeks later after Davis said he was not going to keep the restraining order in place. Advocates hadn’t had a chance to appeal.

The dog had been taken to the shelter after biting a child.

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