Mistrial Declared After Jurors Pet Therapy Dog in Dog Killing Case

The case against a man accused of killing his neighbor's dog will move forward with a new jury on May 15.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 7:21pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A Pennsylvania judge declared a mistrial in the case against Robert J. Wallish III, who is accused of killing his neighbor's dog, after jurors briefly interacted with a courthouse therapy dog during a break in the trial. The incident occurred when the dog wandered into the jury room, and jurors petted and interacted with the animal before court officials realized what had happened. The judge halted proceedings and granted the defense's motion for a mistrial. Unless a plea agreement is reached, the case will move forward with a new jury on May 15.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of maintaining the impartiality of a jury during a trial, as any outside influence or interaction can potentially compromise the integrity of the proceedings. The mistrial declaration raises questions about the use of therapy animals in courthouses and the need for strict protocols to ensure they do not inadvertently interfere with trials.

The details

Robert J. Wallish III, 55, of Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, is accused of killing his neighbor's 11-year-old yellow Labrador mix named Hemi. Wallish admitted to shooting the dog in the dark while checking trail cameras near his hunting cabin in December 2024. He said he felt terrible about the incident and tried to conceal the dog's body. Hemi's owner, Andrew Gavlock, testified that he let the dog and another pet outside around 6:30 a.m. and only one dog returned, prompting him to search for Hemi and contact state police.

  • On March 6, 2026, the judge declared a mistrial after jurors interacted with the therapy dog.
  • The case is scheduled to move forward with a new jury on May 15, 2026, unless a plea agreement is reached.

The players

Robert J. Wallish III

A 55-year-old man from Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, who is accused of killing his neighbor's dog.

Andrew Gavlock

The owner of the 11-year-old yellow Labrador mix named Hemi, who was killed.

Clark

A black Labrador therapy dog that wandered into the jury room during a break in the trial, leading to the mistrial declaration.

Judge Michael F. Salisbury

The judge who declared the mistrial after learning about the jury's interaction with the therapy dog.

Sarah Marie Lockwood

The defense attorney who moved for a mistrial after the jury's interaction with the therapy dog.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I felt terrible because it was a dog.”

— Robert J. Wallish III

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The case will move forward with a new jury on May 15, 2026, unless a plea agreement is reached.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of maintaining the impartiality of a jury during a trial, as any outside influence or interaction can potentially compromise the integrity of the proceedings. The mistrial declaration raises questions about the use of therapy animals in courthouses and the need for strict protocols to ensure they do not inadvertently interfere with trials.