John A. Seidel, 49, claims he shot the standard poodles only after they attacked him on his 39 acres at 102 Bushnell Hollow Road in the Baltic section of Sprague. Seidel's address is also listed as 68 John Brook Road in Canterbury.
On the morning of Oct. 27, at the suggestion of Sprague Animal Control Officer Timothy Hawk, Seidel said he planned to take pictures of the dogs who had repeatedly roamed his property. The dog owners, Sandra and Phil Taylor, live on an adjacent property.
Seidel claimed, in statements to police contained in the arrest warrant affidavit in the case, that when he was attacked by the dogs he used the stock of his Marlin .30-30 rifle to beat them off.
While they were running away, he said he shot each in turn.
Hawk confirmed Seidel had made two complaints in the past about the dogs and had suggested Seidel obtain photos for identification. In a Sept. 3, complaint, Seidel said two of the standard poodles barked and growled at his mother.
After the Oct. 27 shootings, Hawk issued infractions of three counts each of nuisance dog and allowing dogs to roam to the Taylors. Hawk also removed the dogs heads to test for rabies. Test results were negative.
Sandra Taylor, who believes Seidel deliberately baited and killed the dogs, had necropsies performed to prove the dogs were killed from behind. One of the tests was inconclusive.
Seidel was subsequently charged with two counts of cruelty to animals for shooting the dogs while they were running away.
Seidel made a brief appearance in Norwich Superior Court Thursday before his case was continued to Feb. 24. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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