Pennsylvania Judge Declares Mistrial After Therapy Dog Unexpectedly Enters Jury Room During Animal Cruelty Case

A Pennsylvania judge declared a mistrial for Robert Wallish after jurors petted a courthouse therapy dog during his trial for killing a neighbor's pet.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 10, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from People

Legal Proceedings Halted by Unscheduled Canine Interaction

A Pennsylvania courtroom experienced a rare procedural disruption on March 6 when Judge Michael F. Salisbury declared a mistrial in a high profile animal cruelty case. The decision was prompted by an incident involving Clark, a black Labrador retriever employed as a courthouse therapy dog. According to court records, the animal accidentally entered the jury room during a lunch recess, leading to physical interaction between the jurors and the dog before court officials could intervene.

The Accusations and Felony Charges Facing Robert Wallish

The defendant at the center of the stalled trial, 55 year old Robert J. Wallish III, is facing serious legal repercussions following the 2024 death of a neighbor's pet. Wallish has been formally charged with aggravated animal cruelty, tampering with physical evidence, and abuse of a corpse. The charges originated after a yellow Labrador mix named Hemi went missing from a property adjacent to the defendant's hunting cabin in Clinton County, triggering a local investigation.

Defense Cites Potential Bias Following Jury Room Encounter

Following the discovery that jurors had been petting the therapy dog, defense attorney Sarah Marie Lockwood moved for a mistrial, arguing that the interaction could unfairly influence the jury's perspective in a case centered on the death of a dog. While District Attorney David Strouse suggested that the court should poll the jurors to determine if their impartiality remained intact, Judge Salisbury ultimately decided that the encounter was an issue of significant concern that necessitated a complete restart of the legal process.