Todd Norman Shember

Dogfighting

Green Oak Township, MI Livingston County

January 6, 2006

A Livingston County District Court Judge ruled in August, that there is enough evidence to send a Green Oak Township man accused of holding illegal dog fights to trial.

Todd Norman Shember, 40, is charged with six counts of animal fighting and two counts of possessing animal fighting equipment.  If convicted, Shember faces up to four years in prison and/or a $5,000 to $50,000 fine, or 500 to 1,000 hours of community service.

Green Oak Township Police Officer Aimee Danforth testified that she began an animal cruelty investigation involving Shember’s home after she and Livingston County Animal Control Officers discovered distressed Pit Bulls at Shember’s home on the afternoon of January 6^th.

Danforth stated she initially responded to the home to assist Animal Control Officers investigating a complaint from a veterinarian who had treated a badly injured dog belonging to Shember.

Animal Control Officers took custody of six dogs as well as possible evidence of illegal dog fighting, including treadmills and other training equipment.  Police described the conditions of the home as ‘very severe’.  Danforth stated the yard and dog pen were covered with feces.

Prosecutors stated it is unknown where the alleged dog fighting took place.

Reference

Lansing State Journal