For Piper the puppy and her owner, David S. Allen, their story will not end this week. It will only be another chapter.

Allen, a sophomore Syracuse University student, will be in court Thursday continuing his case against charges of aggravated cruelty to an animal, a felony, and a charge of torturing or killing an animal, a misdemeanor. Allen is accused of swinging Piper, his Beagle/Labrador retriever puppy, on her leash and into the concrete sidewalk.

Assistant District Attorney Laura Fiorenza said the return to court is not a trial but the case returning on the court calendar and in front of the bench.

‘This date is basically negotiating the case, talking about where it is,’ she said. ‘The court date is to keep track of the case.’

Gary Sommer, director of SU student legal services and Allen’s attorney, said negotiations are ongoing. He hopes the case will be resolved between the end of May and the end of June.

A trial date has not been set on the case as of yet, Fiorenza said.

During the incident, which allegedly began after Piper defecated in Allen’s apartment, Piper’s back hind legs were broken.

After eight months of care at the Central New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Piper is in excellent condition, said Joanne Lenweaver, director of public education at the SPCA.

‘Her leg is very much healed,’ Lenweaver said. ‘She will have arthritis and some other problems but the therapy, surgery and special nutrition she has gotten at the shelter has made a huge difference.’

Immediately after Piper was taken to the shelter, a waiting list began of people who wanted to adopt her. That list, and the people hoping to adopt Piper, is still there, but Piper cannot go home with anyone yet.

‘It is up to the judge to see if Piper goes back to her owner,’ Lenweaver said. ‘The judge needs to examine evidence to be sure an animal should not belong to someone or if a person has been wrongly accused.’

Sommer said at this time Allen is not trying to regain custody of Piper.

Until that day, Piper belongs to no one and will remain at SPCA, she said. The SPCA tries to make sure that court dates are hurried along so that no animal stays there for a long time simply because of court delays. Lenweaver hopes Piper’s case will come to a culmination soon so she can find a home.

‘Hopefully she won’t be here for anymore of an extended period,’ Lenweaver said. ‘We have animals that have been here over a year. I hope Piper isn’t here that long.’

Published on May 7, 2003 at 12:00 pm