Spring Valley man charged with abandoning dogs

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A Spring Valley man was charged earlier this month in Pierce County Circuit Court with intentionally abandoning animals.

William Gokey, 53, W1618 850th Ave., is looking at a misdemeanor charge carrying a maximum fine of $10,000 and/or nine months jail if found guilty. Gokey had a court appearance scheduled for Monday morning.

According to court records:

Pierce County sheriff’s deputies were called to an animal complaint around 6:40 p.m. Sept. 26 near N8870 410th St., Spring Valley. The homeowners were alleging they saw a truck stop, drop its tailgate and dump a dog (the breed wasn’t stated in the report). They were able to track the truck into the Village of Spring Valley, where police were notified.

After a few minutes, they saw a male walking to the truck, where he was identified as Gokey. Deputies asked him if he had been in the Town of Gilman earlier that day and was the driver of the pickup. He said yes to both. He was then asked about being involved in the alleged dumping incident, a charge he denied by saying, “I would never do that. I would shoot a dog before I dumped it in the middle of nowhere.” He also denied seeing a stray dog on his route into Spring Valley or that he would pick up a stray dog and drop it off again.

For more please read the Nov. 25 print version of the Herald.

Tags: crime and courts, spring valley, news, gokey, dogs