Dog on death row saved by veterans law clinic

A Great Dane with its female owner.
Army veteran Ana Chan (left) depends on her Great Dane, Rodgers, for companionship and support. Jimmy Hardwick, supervising attorney of the Cornell University Veterans Law Practicum, joined a legal team to save Rodgers after a court labeled him a “dangerous dog” and ordered his euthanasia. Photo courtesy Jason Koski/Cornell University

Ana Chan, a disabled Army veteran, has relied heavily on her Great Dane, Rodgers, for physical and emotional support. Due to her traumatic brain injury and partial blindness, the dog provides Chan assistance, helping her feel safer while crossing streets and aiding her in everyday tasks.

However, after two neighbors alleged Rodgers had bitten them, a judge deemed him dangerous and sentenced him to euthanasia.

Chan, unable to afford an attorney and unfamiliar with the court system, found assistance through the Cornell Law School’s Veterans Law Practicum. This program, initiated in 2023, typically supports veterans with benefits and legal advice and took on Rodgers’ case, given its importance to Chan’s well-being. Cornell law students, supervised by attorneys with veterans’ benefits expertise, assist clients like Chan. Aziz Ali, JD, a U.S. Air Force veteran and law student, as well as Isaac Belenkiy, JD, helped with the case.

The legal team gathered evidence from Chan’s community, interviewing neighbors who described Rodgers as a well-behaved companion. A dog behavior expert testified Rodgers’ first bite was defensive, and the team contended the second bite was a case of mistaken identity, as another large dog lived nearby. The evidence included testimony from the neighborhood mailman, who confirmed the 120-lb dog is “a good boy.”

When the judge ordered Rodgers’ euthanasia, Belenkiy swiftly appealed, putting his legal skills to work for a veteran in need. After nine months in a shelter, the appeal succeeded, allowing Rodgers to return home under certain conditions. The court required additional training, the use of a muzzle in public, and neutering.

For more information, visit the Cornell University website.

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