Blackfoot man prepared to go to trial to save dogs that attacked woman - East Idaho News
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Blackfoot man prepared to go to trial to save dogs that attacked woman

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BLACKFOOT — Back in September, a Blackfoot man’s dogs killed another dog and attacked a woman.

Now, Troy Smith is trying to save two of his beloved pets. KPVI reports he was in court last week and now has a decision to make.

On Sept. 25, 2017, Selina Mlynek was found seriously injured in her backyard with three dogs circling her.

The dogs belonged to Troy Smith. Last week, he was offered a plea deal in court, and he’s now considering his options.

Blackfoot Police was forced to shoot one of Smith’s dog, Yogi. Smith is trying to save the other dogs, Tokyo and Nilla, who are at risk of being put down.

RELATED | Neighbor describes vicious dog attack that severely injured woman

Smith was charged with one count of having over two dogs, three counts of harboring a vicious animal and three counts of a dog at large, all misdemeanors. He pled guilty to all but the harboring charges.

The prosecution offered Smith a deal that would allow his dogs to live if they’re adopted out of state and if he pleads guilty to one harboring a vicious animal charge.

Smith made a counter offer: to keep his dogs and then move out of town, but he says it’s not over if they don’t accept it.

Smith says, “Then I am totally prepared to go to trial and prove that my girls are not vicious. They’ve just been labeled as vicious. And in America, you are innocent until proven guilty.”

If the case does goes to trial, Smith plans to start a fundraising effort to get a lawyer. He says he has a lot of people rallying around him. A petition he started to save his dogs has almost 2,500 signatures.

Smith will have until next Tuesday to make his final decision on the plea deal.

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