RAY TWP (WWJ) -- A veterinarian from Macomb County has been charged with one count of animal cruelty after video surfaced earlier this month showing his alleged mistreatment of a dog.
Wayne Albert Gilchrist, 52, was arraigned on Friday at the 42-1 District Court in Romeo.
Gilchrist, who owns Companion Animal Care Clinic in Shelby Township, was given a $25,000 bond — which he posted — and ordered to have no contact with animals as part of his bond conditions. He must also take a cognitive behavior therapy course.
Additionally, it was ordered that the animals removed from his Ray Township home are not returned to him.
If convicted, the animal cruelty misdemeanor charge carries a penalty of up to 93 days in jail, a $1,000 fine and up to 200 hours of community service, according to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office.
In a press conference held by Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel last week, “graphic video” of the incident, which reportedly occurred on Oct. 9, was released after it had been posted, and subsequently removed from YouTube.
The clip appears to show Gilchrist dragging a German Shepherd out of a room and down a hallway while screaming at it.
He then proceeds to choke the dog, while the person recording, believed to be his son makes, disturbing comments such as "I finally got some good s***."
A caption on the video reportedly read: "my dad uncut lmfao (action-drama-comedy film)."
"The phone that allegedly recorded the incident was collected as evidence by the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office, but deputies have not yet been able to retrieve its contents," the Prosecutor's Office said. "Macomb County Animal Control has examined the dog and determined it was not injured."
After authorities were alerted about the video, all three dogs living in the residence were removed, and an investigation was launched into Gilchrist.
According to investigators, the German Shepherd had reportedly "bit a juvenile and a puppy in the home" just prior to the video being taken.
The three dogs, all of which are currently in the care of the Macomb County Animal Control, are said to be safe and in good health at this time.
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