Animal Rights Rally Planned Prior to Dog Shooter Trial Monday

The trial for the man accused of shooting Forrest the dog and leaving him for dead in Cleveland Heights — will begin April 1 in U.S. District Court and a animal rights rally is planned for the same day. 

Solon resident Robin Stone, Forrest's new caregiver, planned a rally in Public Square in downtown Cleveland at 7:30 a.m. 

The bull mastiff was found in November in Forest Hill Park by a professional dog walker and rescued by PAWS. Later, he was adopted into a Solon home by Robin Stone.

Raymone “Ramone” Clements pleaded not guilty to charges of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, according to The Plain Dealer.

The ammunition charge carries a greater sentence if Clements is convicted than his original animal cruelty charge, which was dropped after his federal indictment. 

Clements, 42, of Cleveland, is not allowed to own guns or ammunitions because he has previous convictions in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas for rape in 2006, drug trafficking in 2003 and aggravated robbery in 1991, according to his indictment.

He faces between 19 and 24 years in prison if he is convicted.

Animal cruelty is a second-degree misdemeanor in Ohio and carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail.

"If animal cruelty were a felony in Ohio, we wouldn't need the ammunitions charge," Stone said.

Stone and the Public Animal Welfare Society of Cleveland are reaching out to animal advocates, shelters and other interested parties across Ohio to join forces and support the comprehensive law they hope will pass this year, and they want to see 1,000 people at the Rally for Reform.

According to the Facebook event, more than 340 people have pledged to go and another 225 responded that they may go to the rally. 

Northeast Ohio animal rights activist Dick Goddard will join fellow supporters of stricter animal cruelty laws at a rally on Public Square April 1.

Coincidentally, April 1 is the start of animal cruetly awareness month.