Jury clears dog walker in dog poop case

In what has to be one of the strangest, most bizarre, and funniest trials in the history of the criminal justice system, a Virginia woman was exonerated for the crime of not picking up after the dog she was walking.

Baxter, the little white Westie-Bichon Frise, whose poops were in contention, did not make a court appearance.

Two sisters, Virginia and Christine Cornell, had accused their next door neighbor, Kimberly Zakrzewski, of violating the county’s pooper scooper law by not picking up after Baxter on the grounds of their condominium.

They all admitted that there was a long history of neighborhood feuding, often involving the police.

The Cornell sisters testified that on three straight days they stalked Zakrzewski and Baxter on walks and not once did she pick up Baxter’s deposits. They even hid behind a tree and snapped pictures of Baxter’s alleged poops. They said they heard her telling a neighbor that she did it just to annoy them.

Zakrzewski testified that she carried a supply of plastic bags and always cleaned up after Baxter.

But the dramatic testimony came from Michelle Berman, Baxter’s owner, which involved some discussion of Baxter’s diet.

Zakrzewski’s attorney, Koso So, presented a photograph of Baxter’s alleged poops and asked: “Is that consistent with the stool Baxter creates?”

Berman glanced over and answered definitively: “I’ve never seen something that big come out of my little dog.”

Berman said she had brought a sample of Baxter’s poops for comparison purposes, although she left it in the car.

To which Circuit Court Judge Jane Marum Roush said, ” I don’t think you would have gotten it through security.”

After a day long trial, the jury deliberated just 20 minutes before deciding that this was more of a neighborhood feud gone silly than anything concerning Baxter and his droppings.

Comments

[Jerry]

I'll bet they had fun telling people about their jury doody.

[Tammy]

Tee hee. This made me laugh. I mean, really... Aren't there bigger things to worry about?

[Alyssa]

Wow. This is crazy.

[Alexander Brennefr]

I read this story and I first I thought it was funny, but then I remembered ALL the Times I pick up my dogs poops and How many other dogs poops I do see that other dog owners DO NOT pick up!
What is with people who walk their dogs at our public school yard and refuse to pick up after their dogs!

Several times my wife and I have picked up strangers poops just so that the young children do not step in it (we bring extra bags just for this purpose). Some people just do not care enough to do the right think...PICK UP AFTER YOUR DOG CRAPS!

[Linda]

Some people DO NOT CARE about dog poops, I watched a lady WATCH her dog poop at our local park and then just walk on. Geez

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

[Heather]

WOW! I can't imagine going to court over this.

[Clive]

Goodness, to end up in court! Crazy stuff!

[jackie]

people are starving, out of work and have no insurance and those 3 assholes are tying up court with dog shit?...really?

[cube]

Jerry: lol! You said doody.

I can't believe this case got so out of hand. It should have been settled out of court with neighbors acting courteously together.

BTW we have a neighbor who is a retired City Council member who walks her dog and does not pick up the poop.

[Kristine]

I cannot believe this made it to court, let alone to a jury trial! That's insane. Was the judge just bored?

But I am glad poor Baxter was exonerated of such a heinous crime. The proof is always in the poop!

[Alfie]

OMD that is too funny :-)

[Pamela]

Do I dare share how my aunt took doody justice into her own hands (literally)?

My aunt was tired of her neighbor sending the dog out to do his business off leash. Of course dogs don't respect property lines so sometimes he'd end up on my aunt's lawn.

She got so tired of it she put on a pair of gloves and smeared the offending "gift" all over the neighbor's door knob.

And she never had to clean up dog poop from her lawn ever again. (Luckily, her neighbor was a Mennonite and a pacifist or she might not have gotten away so easily).

[swimmer]

I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't pick up her dogs poop. There are so many dog owners here that could give a "shit" about their dogs poop on the ground. It makes it worst when its actually on the sidewalk.