Contra Costa dog trainer gets prison time for animal abuse

MARTINEZ >> An East Contra Costa dog trainer was sentenced Friday to two years in state prison on four convictions for animal cruelty, related to the neglect of four dogs that had been left under the care of his Antioch business.

Garry Reynolds, 39, faced up to 10 years in prison after being convicted in March of four felony animal cruelty counts. The jury also acquitted him of three other counts, including charges related to a German shepherd, Gunner, that died of heat stroke during the same time period and prompted the police investigation.

Reynolds owned and operated NorCal K9, a dog training business based in East Contra Costa County. He and another NorCal K9 trainer, Devon Ashby, were charged last year with animal abuse related to unsanitary conditions at a NorCal K9 site at 5200 Lone Tree Way, in Antioch.

Two dogs were in such bad health that they later had to be euthanized, authorities said. Investigators found raw chicken meat, urine and feces indoors, and animals left in extreme heat, according to prosecutors.

Reynolds will serve the sentence in county jail, not a state prison facility.

During trial, Reynolds argued that the blame for the conditions fell on Ashby’s shoulders and that Ashby — who accepted a plea deal for a misdemeanor and became a prosecution witness in Reynolds’ trial — was trying to pass the buck. Judge Patricia Scanlon referenced this when she handed down the sentence.

“Nothing is ever your fault. ‘It’s all Devon Ashby’s fault.’ It is not Devon Ashby’s fault. These dogs were your responsibility. You are

NorCal K9 Training,” Scanlon “Of the four dogs Garry told Reynolds in court, Reynolds was convicted of according to Bay Area News neglecting, only one needed Group media partner ABC7 fleeting medical attention News. for a self-inflicted laceration

Deputy district attorney on his snout. While Arsh Singh, who prosecuted the remainder were perfectly the case, said in a news releasethatitwasafairsentence. healthy,” Fregi said. He later pointed to Ashby’s testimony that Reynolds

“I am satisfied the defendant would have “blown up on” will serve time in him if he’d found out about state prison due to his extreme the conditions at 5200 Lone negligence and disregard Tree Way. for the animals under “So, no actual knowlhis company’s care,” Singh edge, no seriously injured said in the news release. animals. How that equals “This case should serve as state prison, I know not,” a wakeup call for any dog Fregi said. training company in our At his Friday sentencing community. Animals dehearing, Reynolds argued serve to be protected and that he deserved lenitreated well. Our Office will ency in part because of the not tolerate the abuse of any business he built. Fregi told animal.” Scanlon that Reynolds had

Reynold’s attorney, Matt turned his life around after Fregi, said in an email Monday a troubled upbringing and that his client “was made that NorCal K9, at its peak, an example of” and disputed was one of the most successful the prosecution’s contention dog training businesses that two of the dogs needed around. to be euthanized because of During trial, Fregi argued the neglect. that Reynolds was going through personal issues at the time of the offenses, and did not know the dogs were being neglected.

“I love dogs,” Reynolds said in court Friday, according to ABC7. “What changed my life was dogs. It wasn’t going to prison.”

But others who followed the case, said the laws aren’t strict enough in such cases.

Karen Parks, president of the Napa Valley German Shepherd Rescue, which provided resources to Gunner’s owners following his death, said she was disappointed that Reynolds never showed any remorse and even continued to hold dog training seminars against a judge’s order while out on bond.

“From the knowledge that I have of the overall situation, the time does not fit the sentence,” she said. “Personally, I think our laws are too lax when it comes to situations like this. There’s no enforcement, followup, or regulations. It’s really sad that so many of the dogs endured that for so long.”

Shauna Fackler, a Brentwood dog trainer, said she “felt terrible” for the dogs that were abused and their owners.

“Some of those owners lost a valued family member through all of this. They trusted a company, trusted Garry Reynolds, and that trust was broken. … I truly hope those families can find some closure.”

Parks added that she and other animal lovers hope that when Reynolds is released, he will “not be able to profit or having anything to do with training and owning a dog until he has completed restitution.”

“These animals don’t have a voice … Gunner that died was the true hero that led the police to investigate and put a stop to it — to finally ending this.”