Anaconda man charged after 2 dogs maul 5 cats

ANACONDA — A 59-year-old Anaconda man faces trial this fall on charges that he allowed his pit bull-cross dogs to run loose, enter another house and kill five cats.

The Montana Standard reports John Griswold made an initial court appearance on May 11 and pleaded not guilty to two counts of owning nuisance animals and two counts of letting his dogs run at large. Trial is set for Sept. 10.

Court records say Griswold's dogs jumped into a fenced yard, got into a house through a pet door and attacked five cats on April 7. Four were killed and one had to be euthanized.

The dogs were taken to the animal shelter and were euthanized by court order on May 9.

Griswold declined the newspaper's request for comment.