A Varina man who admitted to shooting a neighbor’s dog after it trespassed on his property was sentenced Tuesday to four days in jail.
Henrico County Circuit Judge Catherine C. Hammond gave Mack Donald Hudson a 30-day sentence with 26 days suspended, plus a $500 fine, and ordered him to pay $3,000 to the dog’s owner, Howard Lewis, for veterinary bills.
Hudson admitted to police that he shot Grace, an 11-month-old Australian shepherd, in early July, saying he feared for his life at the time.
Evidence showed that Grace was on Hudson’s property, and Hudson believed the dog was planning to go after his horses and chickens. But, Hammond noted, Hudson made it back to his house, where he spent five or 10 minutes, loaded a 12-gauge shotgun and went outside to look for Grace. He should have called authorities instead, she said.
Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Heidi Barshinger asked the judge to sentence Hudson to 30 days in jail, as well as fines, to send a message to the community about animal cruelty. A lower court found Hudson guilty of misdemeanor animal cruelty in August, but Hudson’s attorney appealed that ruling.
Hudson, 79, was taken to jail after a brief talk with his wife and his attorney, John Click Jr.
After the sentencing, Hudson’s wife and son, who testified that the incident resulted in a volume of hate mail and harassing phone calls and a loss of sleep, declined comment.
The cost of Grace’s care was more than $10,000, and donations to her care totaled about $7,000. Heather Sheffield, Grace’s co-owner, said the fact that Hudson was made to pay only the difference of $3,000, rather than the full amount, was “a great injustice” to the donors.
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