Accused dog abuser wants trial, says he's innocent

Anthony Lane says he's innocent and he'll prove it. (Harrison Thorp photo)

ROCHESTER - Anthony Lane of Rochester wants to set the story straight. He’s no dog abuser.

Lane was arraigned on the charges today in Rochester District Court where he pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge.

He said he did not throw Pepper, a small dachshund-Pomeranian mix, against the wall last month as Rochester Police reported.

“The dog pooped on the floor, I took it over to the poop and pointed at it, then shuffled her off to the front door,” he said after he left the courtroom today.

Rochester Police had alleged he had seen the dog poop on the floor, then picked the dog up and threw it against the wall.

Lane said a volunteer who was at the house to attend to his elderly mom saw the incident and mischaracterized it to police.

Lane, 38, of 178 Jamey Drive, was arrested on the charge on July 19.

He said he’s looking forward to proving his innocence at trial and will be looking for a lawyer.

“I’ve had lots of dogs in my life, I train them,” he said. “And I’ve never had a problem.”

He said he got Pepper for his mom to keep her company and that he was trying to housebreak the dog.

He said since the incident he gave the dog away, because she couldn’t be trained. 

Lane said his mom and another family member witnessed the incident and saw no such abuse. He also said he had plenty of character witnesses he can produce to attest to his proper care of animals.

He said he’ll be found innocent at trial and said he’s contemplating lawsuits from fraudulent arrest to defamation of character, adding that social media posts condemning his alleged abuse have been hurtful and mean.

“These people who talk about me on Facebook, that say, ‘he should never have owned a dog in the first place,’ or ‘he’s so cruel,’ or ‘I should throw him up against the wall.’

“They don’t know me,” he said.

He added that he should never have been arrested in the first place.

“It’s a police state,” he said. “If you watch the news, what people are getting arrested for, it’s ridiculous.”